Y our empire once stretched beyond the

horizon. Now your power barely extends

beyond the city walls. Rival domains and
monstrous rulers gather strength on every side,
and your people have grown complacent and
• negligent. But take heart! In its long history,
Ariya has known terrible times, yet always a wise
Qfll}Q leader has appeared to guide the realm back to
strength. Are you the next such ruler?

table of contents what you need

Vizier's Report .................................................. 2
History ........................... ........................ .......... 4
The Land and the City ...................................... 8
Government and Culture ................................ 12
The Magnificent City ...................................... 16
Notable Citizens ........................ .............. ....... 18
Holdings .................................................. ....... 24
Rumors, Secrets, and Plots ............................. 28
Strategy and Advice ........................................ 32
to pluv
This domain sourcebook is an accessory for the
BIRTHRIGHTTM campaign setting. You or your
Dungeon Master needs the BIRTHRIGHT boxed
set, as well as the AD&D®Player's Handbook
and DUNGEON MASTER ® Guide. Your DM will
find the Cities of the Sun campaign expansion
helpful but not essential.

credits how to use this

Written by Allen Varney
Edited by Carrie A. Bebris
Creative Direction by Karen S. Boomgarden
Cover Art by Dana Knutson
and Tony Szczudlo
Graphic Design by Dee Barnett
and Renee Ciske
Interior Art by Dave McKay
Page Backgrounds & Frames by Dee Barnett
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MAsTER are registered trademarks owned byTSR, Inc. BIRTHRIGHT,
and the TSR logo are trademarks owned by TSR, Inc. All TSR
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sourcebook
This book details the people, provinces, customs,
and landmarks of the domain of Ariya, a Khinasi
state on the southern coast of Cerilia. You may
play either Prince Gerad ibn Farid el-Arrasi, the
ruler described here and in Cities of the Sun, or a
new character of your own. This book assumes
Prince Gerad has abdicated and named your PC
his lawful successor, but players of nonregent
characters who live in or come from Ariya will
also find this domain sourcebook useful.
Change anything about the following descrip-
tions that you don't like, then pass this book
along to your D M and explain what you want to
keep or change about the kingdom. Point out the
adventure ideas that are important to your char-
acter. Remember, if something here doesn't fit
the campaign, the DM is free to reject it. The
DM is also free to create a few surprises-after
all, even the Prince-Paladin of Ariya doesn't
know everything about his city-state.
Ariya has knoWI1 far better times, but a regent
with vision and leadership can restore it to glory.
The key lies not in bullying or violence, but in
persuasion, fairness, and hard work. Ten thou-
sand blessings on your path!

3111XXX1501 0-7869-0186-1

TSR, Inc. TSR Ltd.

201 Sheridan Springs Road 120 Church End
Lake Geneva, WI Cherry Hinton
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USA UNITED KINGDOM

1
 To the Resplendent Prince-Paladin of Ariya,
who is like unto the Sun!
For the indomitable Prince-Paladin illumi-
nates Ariya the Impregnable, City of Temples,
and the light of his power shines also on the Khi-
nasi states and all realms of Cerilia! Their rulers
are like the stars, extinguished in the brilliance
of the Prince-Paladin's radiance!
To the Prince-Paladin, Guardian and
Preserver, who is li~e unto the Rain Cloud!
TTTJ
V .A -··. . ~
For the state of Anya and the true Ariyan Tem-
ple of Avani live in the esteemed Prince-Paladin's
shadow, deriving from him life and protection from
the fiery hatred of our enemies! The Prince-Pal-
adin inspires poems and artwork of transcendent
beauty, as the rain cloud casts off rainbows!
To the Excellent Prince-Paladin, who is like
unto the Earth and the Sea!
For immeasurable and imponderable are the
limitless glory and strength of the illustrious
Prince-Paladin!
Your Sublime Majesty! On the splendiferous
occasion of your ascension to the Thousand
Jewel Throne, ordinarily the noble Vizier of Ariya
(praise upon him!), one of the seven deputy
viziers (wise and honorable!), or any of the six-
teen ~eputy assist.ant viziers (trusted colleagues
alH) would describe for you the condition of our
beloved state. Sadly, these worthy official.shave
tempoq~.rily fallenm aft~r your coronation feast,
.:wherec'ajl·ate goat nl1tterthat, we now believe,
had turned ·rancid. I alone-your humble servant,
Fethiye Kalhat Hawwat Nishtun Burumbini al-
Hufuf, junior deputy assistant vizier-foreswore
taking the butter due to a digestive ailment of a
personal nature, praise Avani! So spared, I
respectfully offer this concise summary, in hopes
that its succinctness, meticulous accuracy, and
eye for vivid detail will not go unnoticed.
y~ucdomuin
ou come.to power as the 43rd prince-
·}·!>~~ ~~.orious ,Ariya, most ancient
eV:ei··ect ·6f the ..Khinasi states. Your
e.g enty 'descends from el-Arrasi him-
self (hallowed is his name!), the
·. Great ~i~g'· ~ho freed these
lands•fromthe oppression
':tlt~ Anuirean Empire.
For centuries all the
Khinasi lands
acknowledged
Ariya's
predominance. In that age of glory, three dozen
provinces revered the prince-paladin in his Tower
of Morning. Every harbor on the Sea of the
Golden Sun welcomed ships with the Ariyan flag,
and every market took our silver shetel over other
lands' debased
Z I·e·r s
• • currencies, which
, .,
· .
were not worth the
word of a bard.
But as Lord
Korkud
. ~·~ep·.
i_ : ·
o··, r. t the Mag-
nificent
· , · · (may his
memory
survive the ages!) declared two centuries ago, "A
life concerned with mere influence is a life poorly
lived!" As a child grows up and puts aside the
games of childhood, so we of Ariya have in matu-
rity loosed the reins of power. No empty outlying
provinces can rival our city; why should Ariya
seek to control them? "Prosperous within our
invincible walls, we inspire envy in other
domains," said Lord Korkud.
Ariya's wise monarchs have endorsed this senti-
ment through the generations, down to your pre-
decessor, Prince Gerad ibn Farid el-Arrasi (revered
and beloved!). Duty compels me to report that
irresponsible citizens still speculate on Prince
Gerad's motive for abruptly abdicating the throne
and retreating to the wilderness last month. Fortu-
nately, even these louts still honor Prince Gerad so
far as to resist questioning him directly. I will not
report their scurrilous gossip, having greater
respect than they for a ruler's privacy, and restrict-
ing myself solely to unadulterated facts presented
for Your Superb Majesty's benefit, without concern
for reward or personal advancement.
threats und
weaknesses
T
he fanatical, expansionist Red Kings of
Aftane clearly pose the greatest threat to
the state. After a decade-long rise to
power, the veiled rulers to the east show no sign
of having sated their ruthless ambition. A cen-
tury of war with Aftane has already ravaged a
hundred towns and exhausted our countryside,
and now war looms again. Although rumors tell
of disunity among these seven my;steifous mon-
archs , the Red Kings may trouble Ariya greatly
before they destroy themselves.
With Aftane to the north and east, Ariya
needs no other enemies. To the west, however,
religious extremists have subverteo: neighboring
Zikala. The fanatical priestess Shandare , leader ;,.•:
of the one to question those of superior wis-
misguided dom and station, l agree! Yet palace
Zikalan gXury represents the greatest strain on
Temple of ·our state's resources. If the esteemed
Avani, inces- · prince-paladin can find a new, less
santly preaches expensive , more financially responsible
conquest and subju- . way to assert power and quell unrest, all
gation of our true and Ariya may benefit.
righteous Ariyan Temple. To my mind the gravest danger facing Your
Up.fortunately, the weakling Majesty is our calcified, stagnant civil service,
@randYizier of Zikala, Omar.ibn Tuarim el-Ziset, which discourages promotion of its most gifted,
begms"to heed her sermons. · clear-sighted, energetic, and loyal workers. Some
Even the south-the Sea of the Golden Sun high officials object to bringing certain kinds of
(Bair el;..Mehare )-holds peril for Ariya. In recent problems to Your Majesty's attention, such as the
years our fleets of dhows and dhouras have suf- problems I have mentioned here. To gain Your
fered a resurgence .of piracy, by both the notorious Majesty's ear, concerned individuals (naming no
Black Arrow and the enigmatic, sinister Brother- names) sometimes attempt desperate measures.
hood of Khet. These scoundrels operate from
secret bases along our coast, but their locations
remain a mystery. Rumors credit the pirates with
unusual powers-survivors of plundered ships say stren~hs !l!ld
that the Black Arrow, to all appearances a normal
ship, attacked from underwater.
Dangers on all sides; dangers, too, within.
o_p_poiiun1hes
A
Passionate intrigues, and sometimes assassina- riya remains the jewel, the great p.9wer of
tions , historically have .accompanied succession the Khinasi states. Our economy is' strong,
to the Thousand Jewel Throne. Conspiracy runs our armies adequate for defending-,,t he
rampant inside the palace , the sanctum of the impregnable city walls, if not the sparsely popu:. "
current and previous royal families. I warn Your lated provinces beyond. The state collects an exc~l-~
Majesty that some in Prince Gerad's rqyal family lent income, and Your Majesty's many palaces ·~
may not greet your ascension with unalloyed joy. temples contain colossal wealth. ;;: ; ~-c, ' ..
I cannot give names, for my informants refused Ariya gains security from its long allianc~wit
to speak them. I will not speculate and thereby the western domain of Binsada, and we ~ ·
compromise my yearning for spotless truth. cordial relations with Mesire, beyond
I hesitate to mention what I perceive as a east. We have powerful secret allies e
deeper trouble. Ariyan citizens have grown com- in the provinces that once belonged to
placent, absorbed in our magnificent city while Your Majesty's greatest strength lies"ifi ,,,,_.
neglecting important niatters beyond our walls. of regency: the authority and ability to ~peak
Many officials have developed a rarefied taste for the people. No one else commands this{.)<)~
soft, idle living-always excepting my superiors advice from your predecessor, the wfs:et
and colleagues, honor upon them! Gerad, Youi Majesty can guide }-!§ to §'~.~
This complacency also extends to the Swords of glory. Praise on your p~th! · · '"° - ?f
Avani, the elite troops who protect your palace.
()yer the gent!ra,tipns they have assumed evet
greater diiti~s ; so that now they exerci~e power
that perhaps rivals your own. Yet they "do m>t act
to expand Ariya's dominion, but exert their ener-
gies in training our youth, maintaining civil order,
and even supervising street cleaners! Worthy
c~~. ses, to be sure, but what of otir , ~tagnanf t
domain.?. !h~ Swq~~~ . ~~X~ ~t1!£9<>rnl}ff,r"esisted ·~
reforms, aided by an "enfreriche d nooility and_:_,
forgiv;~ my ca11dor; :Your .M.aJe~ty~~ ;·e~~Il.?:so
pdesis :in 9urvenerated Ariyan Temple; ·:-; · c <x
The treasury represents another s6
alarm. The.worthy viziers senior to me ·
pei;su~s!y~lythatJa:vish ~pending,QI\ ;:•
Subli.tn~ '..Majesty's court keeps the i_.
str.ppg .a;nd ·st:i ftes qissent among Yo
Majesty's envious relatives. Never
 T
he Khinasi use the Masetian
Arrival (MA) calendar, which .
takes as its starting point the first
appearance of the Masetian people on the
continent of Cerilia. Dates in Haelyn's
Count (HC) , which begins with the cataclysm
at Mount Deismaar, follow in parentheses.
ancient duvs
T
he City of Temples entered history as a sim-
ple Masetian port town, Saria. Saria stood
as the first town founded in the region, and
possibly the first in Cerilia. Although tradition says
that the Masetian calendar dates from Saria's found-
ing, the town was probably built in 12 MA (-503
. . ·o· ry·.
HC) , a decade after humanity's Flight from the
Shadow across the primordial land bridge from
Aduria into Cerilia.
hIs
'
. ·
·
_
i
·
·11 . •
,
.. .,
Sailors of bold and
impetuous character,
Masetians explored the
land and founded small
city-states as far west as
PJQdern-day Binsada and as far east as the
)~l<tnds of the Ajari Deeps. History records few
prior inhabitants in this land; elves kept to their
'\forests, dwarves and goblins to the mountains .
:;,~ln the wide , grassy savannah and rocky island
'~-coasts' the Masetians found few rivals.
i~~f1-cro~ t~e gulf of millei:uua, only a few Mase~ian
g_y.mes s~ve. Maltos Sana, founder of a long-lived
~ ""'""' '· ed in Saria, reigned over an empire of
southern Cerilia and the islands of the
~a. His people worshiped the ancient
de i%,p f the sea, Masela. Maselan doctrine
lli:age'U followers to teach the lore of the sea to
.rtie:~el sought it, and so the Masetians, finest
• ,7\,_sailors of the ancient world, taught their
"=' fore to a tribe of nomadic seafarers and
')nage~. from lands across the Sea
· ~ .-- -~f Dragons-the Basarji. .
'The tw9 peopl~s share_d the
~- · d:~ll se~ ~acefajly for
eii:tiries. I ntermafriage
¥1;;'.}Vas not uncommon,
~ though J?asarji
culture di.s~ted ; priestess of the old faith, fell afoul of bandits while
that inter.flicial · - traveling with a caravan between Zikala and Ariya.
ctiuple(must
ado tthe
And so it came
to pass that
while many
Basarji children
had Masetian
blood coursing
through their veins,
the number of true
Masetians declined.
The War of Shadow and
its climactic battle on Mount Deismaar in 515
(0 HC) proved disastrous for the Masetians.
Never numerous, the Masetian people were all but
annihilated by the cataclysm; the few survivors
could not prolong their race beyond several ever-
dwindling generations. Many left their cities along
the coast of the Bair el-Mehare to consolidate in
the southeastern islands.
As Masetian influence in Saria declined,
Basarji influence increased. The wanderers
began to trade their nomadic lifestyles for more
permanent settlements .
Taking advantage of this transitional period,
looters and bandits descended upon Saria. After a
few years of their sacking, pillaging and plundering,
Saria lay in ruins. In 523 (8 HC) , the Basarji rallied
to drive the bandits out of the region. The victori-
ous Basarji rebuilt the city, naming it Ariya.
Though the Masetians wrote an ancient chapter
in Ariya's history, symbols of their rule survive in
many forms-notably in the Seal of Ariya and the
prince-paladin's Scepter of Office. Their role in his-
tory also is evident in the faces of Ariya's people,
many of whom favor their Masetian ancestors.
the t~mple of
QVQfil
A
s the Basarji took over the Masetians '
cities, they also adjusted to the new
gods who emerged from Mount Deis-
maar. In their new homeland the Basarji gradu-
aUy ·tnoved away from sea worship, butthe tran-
sition did not happen smoothly.
In 524 (9 HC), Nurida el-Deyfr, a charismatic
The bandits slew the caravan's guards, then moved
to attack the unarmed travelers ~ . Nurida, like all
priests stifl serving "dead" gods_after Deismaar,
had1;~0 n;ic;jpr spells .to protect herself. N onethe-
less:-,s:ne 's tood against the bandits and tried to per-
suau~ them from murder. In the extreme circum-
- es, sJ.ie appealed to "the light of reason," and
, drew the first manifestation in Basarji
-lands of the goddess Avani.
After incinerating the bandits , Avani
enlisted N urida to teach the virtues of reason
throughout the land. N urida spent the next 40 years
preaching first in Ariya, then throughout the region.
Late in life she journeyed east to Djafra. Her activi-
ties there are unknown to Ariyans, but two Djafran
provinces are named for Nurida el-Deyir.
Nurida's message found a cold reception in
Ariya. Worshipers of the old gods remained stal-
wart, convinced that their deities' apparent death
was only a test of faith; meanwhile, priests of the
new gods competed for followers on the newly
leveled field. Persecution of Avani's earliest disci-
ples forced them to retreat to the unoccupied
provinces, where they created huge underground
cities in which to practice their faith.
Eventually, Avani's children could once again
feel the warmth of her sunlight: In 760
(245 HC), the Ariyan ruler Lord Orhan con-
verted to Avani's faith, thereby making the Tem-
ple of Avani the official creed of the city-state.
Today, the abandoned underground cities remain
potent sources of magic.
el-orrusi und
the,empire
T
·he · leading figure of Khinasi history was
born ih and ruled the city of Ariya, a fact
which has remained a source of endless
pride for Ariya's citizens. Though legends shroud
his childhood, all know that Rashid doune Arrasi
was born in 1249 (734 HC ), battled with his
brother Eirat for the throne in 1270 , and
emerged as ruler of Ariya in 1271. Custom dis-
courages the use of this heroic leader's birth
name: Ariyans call him simply "el-Arrasi. "
El-Arrasi's rise to fame began in 1279 (764
HC) , when the Anuirean Empire ruled all the
Basarji states from Ber Dairas to Djafra-all the
lands , that is, save the city of Ariya, where el-
Arrasi reigned as mage-king. Anuire had a tyran-
nical (and mad) new emperor, Alandalae, who
conquered western Khourane. In response, the
mage-king began uniting the Basarji to oppose
Anuire. Displaying his superb grasp of diplo-
macy, intimidation, local custom, and logistics ,
el-Arrasi led a series of lightning strikes against
the Empire's land and sea forces. In the two
decades of war that followed , the mage-king dis-
-tinguished himself as a master of guerrilla tac-
tics, naval strategy, espionage, and realm magic.
The war reached its climax in 1299 (784 HC)
wheI¥Alandalae personally led a land assault on
Ariya, while his nephew Caercuillen commanded
a supporting navy. Aboard the Basarji flagship
Sehare el-Resheir, el""Arrasi defeated the navy in
the Battle of Kfeira. He captured Caercuillen,
then lan_sJ.e_d and attacked the imperial army in
wMlt -is I1ow called the Battle of Kings. After
intense fighting, el-An«lSi marspC!Jed th:~ :r;nagic <;;,
of his land and burrfed the enemy legiP,ns with
explosive flames , roasting the emperor alive.
 Rather than ensure the war's continuation by
killing Caercuillen, el-Arrasi offered peace. The
new emperor, impressed with el-Arrasi's courage
and wisdom, agreed and withdrew his troops
from the region . The following years of friend-
ship between the two rulers helped heal the rift
between their people.
El-Arrasi ruled the Basarji until only 1311
(796 ti€), when an assassin struck. Sent by the
Serpent, who feareo el-Arrasi's growing influence
along the Sun Coast, the assassin bypassed the
<:;reat King's formidable protections by infecting
11ifiii with a magical wasting disease similar to a
potent curse. The mage-king's magic could not
stcfp th'e disea-se , but before it killed him, he
plarced l}imselfin a temporal stasis. El-Arrasi's
viziers fai~th:eir lord's body in a secret chamber
benea,th ~tfre Tower of Morning and searched for
a. cure. After weeks of effort, they found one-
nut the :body had vanished. No one ever discov-
ere;cl -wno took the Great King's body, nor why,
nof wliat l:fecame of it. If the stasis has not been
. aispellect ~l-Arrasi may still live,~transfixed, per-
' etually on the brink of death.
:J:in } everence for their lost ruler, the Basarji
c_tenamed their region Jh ~. khir-aften el-Arrasi,
: 1Clf!ds u!!der the protectlo, ,; of el -Arrasi. " In time
thil -ph~se b~cam~ e~Jd((d ·!nfo Kb~nasi.
the rightful heir's siblings. To remove some of the
competition, one winner marked his victory by
sitting on the Thousand Jewel Throne and watch-
ing as his brothers and sisters were publicly
strangled. To Ariya's shame, this barbaric act -
became tradition.
Outside the palace, the city-state found itself
beset by feuds between geirbou , clan-like
extended families who each pursue a single craft
or trade. The geirhou jealously guarded their-
occupational secrets and believed they had a tra.,,-"'
ditional right to monopolize their chosen occu.o;1
pation. Midnight turf wars between rival ban'ds
of cobblers or glassblowers destJ.!oyed whole ·
neighborhoods.
These uncivilized-practices came to an end in
Sf
1495 (9~0 HC) With t~e a~~en~ion l<_at?n~ 15int, J
el-Arrasi. Before taking up tHe scept~n;>f;J·ule, ~
Fatima serve~ with Ariya's p~laClins, the~SwordSRof ' -~
Avani. Rather than destroy Her many si:blihgs, she ~
confined them to house arrest in the~ royal palace;·
beginning a tradition that surVives to ,,thi~ day:;
Even as ruler, the Lady Fatima maintaine.d her
' service.to the Temple of Avani. However, when
she rose to become its lady high matria ~~ h --
(supreme authority), she clairµed th_e o(fic~ n~t; ~
as a paladin but as regent of Ariya, calling: heFse lfr°' l
"lady-princess."This marked the beginning""'o f·
theocracy in Ariya. Subsequent rulers also were - '

•·,"·T·fie ·<Solden a'5e

he century that began with el-Arrasi's
victory in the Battle of Kings, now retro-
- spectively called the Golden Age by
Ariyah scholars, seemed no more golden at the
time than any age does. Without the leadership
"".,of the Great King, the Basarji Federation sur-
~ -'.!ived only a few years beyond him. Yet Ariya
-- emerged.from the breakup with 11 provinces and
cJ. cg mmanding prestige everywhere on the Sun
~~as:t j'Efr five generations it led the other
:j{liinasi states through influence , if not authority.
·_~ Q~_spife Ariya's influence abroad, however, the
~~ffei~te - faced ugly problems within. The contest
· · for the throne between el-Arrasi and his
brother had created resentful
feelings among Eirat's heirs
and set an unfortunate
precedent: The death of
each ruler sparked a
fierce internal succes-
sion war, not only
with Eirat's
descendants but
_also among
priests or paladins of Avani, at least in name, and
maintained authority over both temporal and
spiritual domains .
Fatima ended the geirhou battles by granting
monopolies to one family in each trade. Rival
families left the city and moved to new settle-
ments in the countryside. There they founded
villages and maintained their crafts. This isola-
tionism explains why the rare traveler in Ariya's
remote provinces may find that all residents in
one village are toothless but wear boots of stun-
ning craftsmanship , whereas residents of a
neighboring village may sport perfect teeth but
go barefoot.
The Lady Fatima faced her first crisis in 1497
(982 HC) , when adjacent Aftane invaded and
seized Ariya's four northern provinces. Her
counterstrike ended in disaster, for in the cen-
tury since el-Arrasi 's death Ariya's army had
grown incompetent. Fatima responded by exiling
all commissioned officers and founding a new
army, led by her fellow paladins in the Swords of
Avani. After two years of preparation, the Swords
tried again to reconquer the northern provinces.
Though Aftane 's court mage threw them back
with overwhelming power, the Swords made a
much better showing than they had before. Earn-
ing the respect of the citizens, and drawing on a
strong power base in the Temple of Avani, the
Swords became the chief military and police
force on land and sea throughout the domain.
 the lon~ 1£ull 1
T
he Swords of Avani have served with
honor for five ce.nturies. They have, how-
ever, had to o'pen their ranks to non-pal-
adin figHters in order to maintain a sufficient
IU::ilitary presence throughout the -domain. In
'15.:7'6 (1061 HC), jurisdiction over the Swords
traµsferred from the Temple of Avani to the state
g9:verP-1l1~nt (primarily a technical distinction, as
tn~ PHhde of Ariya heads both institutions). At
t time,j"" the _Swords established a policy that
rs and cayalry members must be paladins of
- _. i, _ Byt in£i ntry men and members of the _~
O.:.~.~:.':lden _N~vy ... . n~ longer had to practice such ~
as_s1duous d1sc1plme.
_ - ·For ;too many years, the Swords were
engaged.in a tug-of-war with Aftane over the
four provinces seized during Fatima's reign.
- The SwoTds launched repeated campaigns to
"refake th~ lands; one hundred years ago they
~~lly '¥~n. Unfortunately, the victory occurred
iJHrig t he rule of Selima I-the first of the
Nf~e . Ba(! Sultans.
_,;:~~~tarting in 1938 ( 1423 HC), the once-power-
fuf_Ariya ~declined under a century-long sequence
~. offfePoor r.µlers. The policy of house arrest for a
ruler's siplings, though motivated by kindness ,
producea generations of royal families who were
to varying degrees insane. Nine madmen , one
after another, drained the treasury, announced
cruel or senseless policies, and-neglected outly-
ing villages. Though the title of "s ultan" has -
never been used officially for the ruler of Ariya,
these regents are nonetheless known today as
the Nine Bad Sultans-historians agree that such
incompetent regents do not deserve'the· honor-
able title "prince."
When the Swords of Avani reconquered
Ariya's lost provinces, Selima refused to release
enough money from the treasury to properly
administer them. Aftane, taking advantage of
Selima's foolishness, easily recaptured the
lands; the Swords were then ordered on another
mission. And so it continued for nearly a cen-
tury: the Swords would conquer, a few years
later Aftane reconquered. Historians now refer
to the four provinces as "the ricochet lands, "
because their allegiance bounced back and
forth between states.
To many, the fruitless fighting over the rico-
chet lands serves as just one symbol of Ariya's
fall from glory during the sultans' reign. Under
Abdulaziz IV, the mismanagement culmi-
nated in the disastrous Plague Year of
1965 (1450 HC) ._Fearing -that p1iests inAftalie
would curse him, .6.bdulaziz called every pri'e§j: ~
and healer in the land to the Tower of ~orning:
While they stood by his-bedchamber_~selessly,
smallpox ravaged the countryside, followed _hj~~a,
plague of locusts and-the nexf year-an ea~n:..
quake. Scholars have sought a magical explana:
tion for these catastrophes, but determined tlieir
cause as muhdane bad luck. Regardless, Abdu-
laziz's mismanagemen{ plunged-the domain itit~
chaos. Rescue came with -his successor, Prince
Sehinsah the Wise, who painstakingly rebuili>the
state and replenished its treasury. ~·
. "' ' - -
" · ,,,,., • ~!--~.., i
l1c confIThU:fft (T~ ,
p_eoblems ·
rn --~., .'
c{
A -~ ~
riya seems as far away as ever from its
Golden Age. The Red Kings of Aftane,
_ seven anonymous warriors named for the
red veils they wear, have spent a decade achieving
joint rule of Aftane. Now they show every sign of
renewing the age-old war with Ariya.
Zikala 's E x alted High Priestess Shandare
(FKh; Pr9, Avani; Ba, major, 39) wields tremen-
dous influence over the weak young Grand Vizier
Omar ibn Tuarim el-Zisef (MKh ; W4 ; An, major,
36). Shandare has pledged to bring the Zikalan
Temple of Avani into all surrounding lands, by
word or by sword.
To the south, piracy plagues the state.
Although Prince Geraci personally killed the self-
styled "pirate king" Bedize the Soulless over a
decade ago, the pirate's daughter, Sari, has
appeared off the Ariyan coast to begin a new
wave of piracy.
Ariya has endured disasters, but to date has
always recovered through wise rulership. Still, it
has never regained that Golden Age of influence,
seven centuries g~st. All eyes now tum with hope
to the new regent.
 the dynasties create unrest in the countryside
and divert citizens from watching the borde_rs.
The savannah also ~supports herds of wild
horses-, beautiful lightly -built animals with bay,
chestnut, or brown coats >Ariyans capture _and
domesticate these horses , which are adni1red
acroS:s Cerilia
m·-' . -- ""
for stamina, -,

inteJlige~ce.
spee_:_d, and · -,,
e
. • .
" · .' ,··.

Olidfhe ·
eicot the tcouhleso-~ - ~

Ordinary sea and shore life presents little:thi-

Ariya. On the long beaches, travelers can-see __ _ _
goanna lizards, pelicans, black-win.ged gulls, fr(fgs, .,·
and turtles. Jn the ocean, salmon abounQ., as well
as ~luefin tuna, huge_colonies of shellfish (preyed
on by mako sharks), blue-ringed octopi, and pqiso-
nous crayfish. Fishermen sight a ki:aken evety
decade or so; but the main threat to ocean travel is
_Once herds of oryx and red antelope roamed - selcfom mentioned·, for it was unintentionally cre-
_the dry savannah, preyed on by cougars, packs at~d -by elS4frasi himself.
of hunting dogs, and vultures. Today, little ,_;~}J. en. el-Arrasi claimed leadership of the
wildlife remains except hares, partridges and Ba:s~kji Fedenation seven centuries ago, the
other game birds , and monitor lizards. Larger Great -~in g's younger brother, the mage Eirat,
animals have moved west to Binsada or north to dispute d' .his claim. The two brothers met in a
the Tarvan Wastes , unable to compete with sorcerers ' duel during which el-Arrasi defeated
gigantic herds of cattle. Eirat. Rather than kill his brother, el-Arrasi
Ariyans live on beef, and the Ariyan economy transformed him into a turtle and freed him in
rides on the backs of cattle-brown short-horned the ocean, decreeing that no Basarji could kill
steers of lar_ge size and colossa l stupidity. The the turtle. (This sibling rivalry helped justify later
herds roam fr~e, tended ·by rancher~ oD:horsehack.~' "'r ulers ' practice of destroying all relatives upon
}'.,'fo~e ranc:4ers" b,¢long to five ascending to the throne.)
, families ,.,tfi~ scr_~lled Cattle 'In the seven centuries after el-Arrasi's death,
sti~S ,· Who fOIDp~te fiercely Eirat fed on fish and then on sailors, always growing
for territory. Through their ever larger. Now he has become enormous-30 feet
struggles to gain the from snout to spiny tail-and mad with loneliness.
'. best grazing Desperate for human contact, he occasionally
land, assaults ships and threatens to capsize them unless
their crews pay him a tribute of fish.
_The Khinasi, still respectful of the Great
King's edict, do not attack Eirat. In fact,
sailors find the whole subject of Eirat as
troublesome as the turtle himself, and
speak of him rarely. Only the ruler of
- Ariya has the authority to defy el-
Arrasi's command and attack
Eirat, yet prince-paladins have lived out long
reigns without ever having to deal with the
Troublesome One.
Eirat the Troublesome (Dragon Turtle):
AC 0, MV 3 (Sw 9); HD 12; hp 72; THACO
9; #AT 3; Dmg 2d6/2d6/4d8; SA capsize
ships; SZ G (30' diameter shell); ML
fanatic (17); Int 18; AL NE; XP 8,000.
Notes: Capsizes ships under 20' 95% of the time,
20-60' 50%, 60+' 20%; ships not capsized ai:e dam-
aged but seaworthy. Bloodline: Ba, great, 38. Blood
abilities: Alertness, detect illusion, elemental con-
trol, long life (major).
Eirat is a 12-HD dragon turtle, except that he
has an Intelligence of 18 and no breath weapon.
El-Arrasi marked Eirat's shell with gold calli-
graphic letters reading "traitor," which are still
visible.
Eirat cannot cast spells in turtle form, but he
can communicate telepathically. Before assault-
ing a ship, he asks if a mage is aboard. Eirat
seeks to regain his human form, then take his
late brother's throne and gain terrible revenge on
all the Khinasi.
1ouds und _routes _
A
riyan roads are made of dirt, wide and -
solidly packed from centuries of carts
and caravans. Each year half a dozen
caravans travel the Coast Road east or west;
another three or four head up the North Road to
Shoufal during those periods when control of the
northern provinces seesaws back to Ariya. Cur-
rently those provinces belong to Aftane.
Free ranchers, royal couriers, and the occa-
sional army use the road, but most travelers are
farmers. Thousands of carts bring whe~,,.vegeta­
bles, and livestock from adjacent provinces-to
feed the hungry city of Ariya. City dwellers,
however, traverse these roads little. Ariyans
travel by sea when they travel at all,
and few ever leave the city.
 provinciul
ys. city life
-~ A
-~- - -_- _ riya's provincial towns
' and villages have never
-· played important roles
in the state's culture or his-
tory. Now, ravaged by fre-
quent wars with Aftane, settle-
ments in the outlying provinces
(including Kouzir) have practically
vanished. The Cattle Dynasties
occupy the ruined huts on their fre-
quent drives across the savannah, having paid
rotection to Aftan~'s forces for safe passage .
.ast _ rul~rs~tr~~!Lth~ loss of the·_prq_vinces as
rfvial, but Prince ·cerad became alarmed when,
Jatein his reign, the Red Kings of Aftane asserted
; control in all but name over Assarif, Azedas, and
"' Djef el-Kadir. The sparse populations remaining
in these eastern provinces pay their taxes as
usual, but the payments unfailingly get "stolen by
bandits" and find their way to Aftane. Prince
Gerad intended to reassert Ariya's authority in
these provinces, but he abdicated for mysterious
reasons before carrying out his plans.
Though poorer and less educated than citizens
in the city, provincial residents live, think, and
. worship much like their urban counterparts. No
cultural gulf separates them. However, urban
Ariyans seldom think at all of the rural people. In
general, the urbane sophisticates of the city
think of anyone who lives outside the City of
Temples as unlettered, unimaginative, and bor-
ing. Ariya's neglect of the provinces has caused
bitterness among the remaining farmers and vil-
lagers. They view the city of Ariya as a den of
irresponsible (true), immoral (false), unclean
·;~totally false) spendthrifts (very true).
Thousands of refugees from plundered farm-
steads have fled to the Magnificent City, where
-fhey: have erected crude dwellings outside the
city's pristine white walls. In Ariya's loud and
crowded bazaars, where merchants sell
pots and plums, glasswork and
horses, the refugees beg copper
coins. Seeking work, they
invade the bathhouse
steam rooms where
sweating merchants
discuss business.
Even in the
dozens of stately temples and shrines to Avani,
refugee mothers with babes in arms beseech
worshipers on their way to prayer.
These refugees soon learn the truth and
falsehood of their views about the Magnificent
City and its citizens. Festivals every few days
confirm the fixed provincial belief that city
dwellers are improvident and frivolous-
although every festival celebrates some saintly
figure from temple history, worthy institutions
like parenthood, or a virtue such as familial loy-
alty, charity to the sick, or hospitality. Try as
they might, refugees see no one drink liquor or
become intoxicated, and contact between men
and women stays rigorously innocent. Piety is
eXt~a'\'tt;pinary and universal.
Above· all, the refugees see. instantly that the
city is not unclean. No cityjp. Cerilia has fresher
paint on its buildings. Each winding street in the
Old City, each wide avenue in the New City,
each pavilion in the Lord's City, is spotless. The
three dumps outside the walls hardly deserve the
name, for civil servants cover the trash heaps
with fresh soil daily. Every citizen bathes as often
as feasible. Cleanliness is a cardinal virtue in
most temples of Avani, but in Ariya cleanliness
has transcended mere virtue to achieve the
status of a near-fetish.
the tower of mornin~
Built by el-Arrasi shortly after his rise to power,
the royal citadel earned the name Tower of
Morning for its perfect view of summer sunrises.
The Great King built a companion Tower of
Evening in western Binsada , but after the
breakup of the Basarji Federation the tower
stood empty. Now it survives as a haunted ruin
beside the monster-infested Harrowmarsh.
The Tower of Morning stands sentinel at the
city's harbor. In times past it served mainly as a
stately, impressive monument to Ariya's greatness.
Now, as pirates grow bolder and other states con-
sider aggression by sea as well as by land, the
tower's defensive function grows more important-
hence the presence of army barracks nearby.
The tower is the nexus of a large complex of
law courts, armories, spacious guest houses, ser-
vants' quarters , and the Golden Menagerie-a
collection of exotic live animals from all over
Cerilia. Just outside the palace complex sits
beautiful Regent's Park, with an enormous
library, a temple, a fountain, and a statue of el-
Arrasi. The elite Two Hundred Families, Ariyans
of high status, gather here four times a year to
mingle with ambassadors of foreign states and
hear the prince-paladin speak on the condition of
the domain.
The tower's interior provides a brilliant exam-
ple of Khinasi architecture, lavish yet tasteful. Its
lovely-Court of Royal '.V frtue featuteia~"po~l ,
stocked with exotic carp, -bred through the cen..c
turies for beautiful scale patterns or interesting
eye deformities. The carp live very long lives , and
the death of any one of the carp signals change
for Ariya. One carp in particular, unimaginatively
called "Old Man Carp ," was bred by el-Arrasi
himself. Legends say that if Old Man Carp dies ,
Ariya itself will undergo tumultuous change.
The House of Silent Servants: The regent's
living quarters take this name because , by
unbreakable custom, no servant may speak to
one of the royal family unless the family member
speaks first.
The house, actually a complex of four floors
atop the Tower of Morning, boasts opulent fur-
nishings: red velvet divans, walls decked in glass
globes,_crysta! cpa~deliers , sweeping staircases
with gota nalusters ;-ana vases filled with peacock
feathers . .--R ooms smell of cinnamon and sweet
incense, and servants wave ostrich-plume fans to
circulate the air. Musicians quietly pluck 30-
string zithers or strum a short-necked lute called
the oud. Palace eunuchs stand guard, ministering
to the royal family's every need. Few other ruling
houses in Cerilia enjoy such luxury.
In marked contrast to the richness of the
house's other rooms, the regent's own chamber
seems understated. The paladins who rule Ariya
generally have no taste for luxury, finding truer
comfort in devotion to Avani.
The Chamber of Whispers: Deep below the
House of Silent Servants, deeper than the palace
dungeons, past the oubliettes and treasure
rooms, down nine guarded flights of stairs and
past three doors (the first of steel, the second
onyx, the third obsidian) lies the prince-paladin's
most secret room. Beneath an unmarked obsid-
ian dome 20 feet across, the regent sits in total
silence. After 15 minutes, a gentle breeze rises,
and he begins to hear things: snatches of conver-
sation in tea houses, distant cries of merchants in
the bazaars, gossip around a village well. In the
Chamber of Whispers , the regent hears the
voices of his domain.
The listener cannot control what he hears; he
can follow no more than a few moments of a
given conversation before the whispers move
elsewhere. At the regent's invitation, others may
accompany him to the chamber, which holds up
to eight people. All mus Vremain absolutely
silent, oi th~ whts e1~K fed~ :~~
 ~ouernment
A
riya is a theocracy, meaning that political
power resides with the Ariyan Temple of
Avani and its priests. The prince-paladin,
highest official in both civic and temple matters,
is presumed tcFt-ule by the authority of Avani.
c1irne uhd
< punish~ent
t Ariya's legal code, liKe so many of the state's insti-
tutions, originate with el-Arrasi. Soon after
. defeating the Anuirean Empire, the Great King
~ pr_o pounded the "Khin~si Law," a civil code mod-
el_~d on Anuire's. Howe~er, because the Temple of
Avani preaches that all"'thinking beings are equai-
,'!overruµent
~· and culture
:\
ui:ider Avani, the Khinasi Law djffers from most
.Anuirean legal codes in one important respect: It
ants no special status to noble~""priests, or even
ill;~ prince-paladin. Additionally, th~ law considers
Afiyans "citizens," not "subjects." '''
In practice, though, Ariya's rich:-a nd powerful
citize~ gain special treatment through the twin
pillars.. of the Khinasi Law: scripture and prece-
dent. Juqges rule based on their interpretations
of temple-teachings and on the rulings of previ-
ous judgesAtp similar cases. The rich ~an afford
lawyers intimately familiar with botlr bodies of
lore; in effect-y the wealthy buy examples that
absolve their crimes.
Many poor Ai1yans cannot afford lawyers, and
so they mete out private justice in duels, lengthy
vendettas, and occasional lynch mobs. For'"lesser
offenses, injured parties may resort to a cqning
contest. They adjourn ·fo a public bazaar, s~and
ten~
each- _a-ther.
/ s apart, and a_1_t~r·-·• -n a_t_ _ e.ly·~~reativity
Bystand~i:~fi4ge-~
=~o ' ' nee of th . - at\r! e ~re - ~~ed)y
luwffiukin'S und
enforcement
The prince-paladin initiates laws in both secular
and temple matters. Usually these take the form
of highly specific rulings on individual cases
brought to him by priests or the palace's large
staff of viziers.
Others in Ariya exercise power of their own.
Provincial governors, called beys, may enact laws
in their territories subject to the prince's
approval. The Swords of Avani and the Golden
Navy hold separate courts-martial for crimes
committed by soldiers or sailors. The Ariyan
Temple holds annual councils of the highest-
ranking priests. In closed ·chambers they formu-
late 'temple laws ~ then present them to the regent
for approval. - --
Making a law and enforcing it are entirely sep-
arate matters in Ariya. Civil servants and the
priesthood often place their own interests ahead
of the public good. If a new law restricts those
interests, they can avoid obeying it by a pretense
of ignorance of the law, confusion over its fine
details, or failure to see instances of violation.
One tactic involves "tabling" a law while a select
committee investigates possible conflicts with
scripture or precedent. Laws have remained
tabled for generations.
trunspoq un.d
cornrnun1cut1ons
Within the city, ordinary citizens travel on foot or
pay a few coppers to ride in "share-carts," ox-
drawn carts that travel fixed routes around the
city. Rich citizens ride horses, carriages, or even
palanquins. Each horse owner must pay a tax
that funds the city's street cleaners.
Travelers leaving Ariya go by sea when possi-
ble. Overland, caravans of 200 to 600 pack ani-
mals (usually mules, horses, and oxen) travel 15
tQ 20 miles a day. To encourage trade, past
rulers of the Khinasi states have built large shel-
-· - hur_l_insultsapd
at--
ters called caravanserais all along the road, one
or two days' travel apart. Each caravanserai is
an open-air fortress with well~, watering
troughs, a temple, stables, and living quarters
· _(often in the
stables). Some
ravanserais near
:Ariya even have
bathhouses and
shops.Guards and
workers live in _pr near
~each cara'\ianseitai; in :retll@<-
"' - for their protectidti ·
and maintenance, they are exempt from taxa-
tion . In times past, large towns grew around
some caravanserais, but almost all of these
towns are now ruins.
The Prince's Exalted Couriers carry diplo- - ·_ center, -Ariya i.l'1D~1ts- .raw
matic messages and urgent warnings between - materials such as ore·, timber,
Ariya and foreign capitals. They ride in gilded
saddles on the fastest horses in Khinasi. If a rider sources. Rich citizens prize
bears good news, he wears a royal blue sash; if he
bears bad news, he wears a black sash.
•
QfinieS
Primarily a sea_power now, Ariya commands
the impf,e_ssive Gold~n Navy:._The navy'$ main-de ?. --though farmers in lawless outlying?~
force c_o nsists of s~ ·zebecs (large three:;inastect · provinces are independent pioneers. Nearly all
war vessels with lateen saiJs t flghting·crews of
200 fo 250 sailors, and catapults <ind light
artillery'). The navy also uses eight dhouras
(two-masted coastal cargo vessels that carry
100 to 200 tons of goods and a crew of 30 to
80) and four small, sharp-bowed dhows (for
scouting and diplomatic missions) .
Most of these ships come from the city's ship-
yards, but the state purchased several from the
matchless shipwrights of Suiriene , the island
kingdom to the east. The dhows, one zebec, and
one dhoura are in port at any given time, while
the rest patrol the Sun Coast. [For sea movement
rules, see the BIRTHRIGHT Cities of the Sun cam-
paign expansion. J
The Swords of Avani form all six army units.
They are stationed in the city of Ariya, in bar-
racks near the Tower of Morning. Almost all sol-
diers in the four medium cavalry units (Horse
Companies One through Four) and two infantry
units (Footman Companies One and Two) are
human, and all are male except the 200 women
of Horse Company Three.
The companies drill regularly to maintain bat-
tle readiness, emphasizi ng defensive and siege
tactics suited to protection of the city. Unit cap-
tains speak privately of the futility of expansion
into new provinces: "The Red Kings will just take
them back again. "
Instead of conquest, the Swords concentrate
on community service: police duties , sport pro-
grams for children, and missions that provide
food and shelter to the city's poor. They do a fine
job, and crime and poverty in Ariya are minor
problems . Still, the Red Kings grow in strength
along the northern border.
theeconomv
Ariya exports leather, beef, and some dairy prod-
ucts to Binsada, Mesire , Zikala, and the island
states to the east. Recently, caravan trade to the
west halted because of raids by minions of the
Sphinx. Sea trade has so far
compensated for the lost
overland trade. .
- _ As .a strong-manufacturing
and raw silk from many
Zikalan pottery and Djafran
hardwoods .
Production ~
Most farmers serve as vassals of
the noble family who owns their Ian~~--
other arts, crafts, and trades in Ariy~~ society
ar~ __rµonopolized by the_geirhou. -L ess; S'!Tingent
than guilds, Ariyan geirhou nonetheless
achieve the highest skill and quality in A: he,
western plains.
A geirhou comprises an extended family
(which can grow quite large) that raises its chil-
dren to continue its chosen occupation,
instructing them in trade secrets and sometimes
even reshaping the children physically. For
instance, a childhood accident in ancient Ariya
left Sokollu Feridun with a concave fingernail
that could hold liquid ink. He developed a
unique finger-painting calligraphic technique
which became so influential that he founded the
Feridun geirhou of painters, all of whom had to
be disfigured as children or youths in order to
finger-paint in his style.
Not all geirhou hold a monopoly. In active
trades , especially clothing and transport, rival
families vie constantly for control.
Coinage
Each Khinasi city-state coins its own money, and
merchants trust native coins far above those ef
other states. The silver shetel of Ariya has wider
acceptance than~· some , perhaps because it
depicts el-Arrasi. But the farther one travels
from Ariya, the less reputable the shetel
becomes. Depending on currency and bargaining
skill, prices vary between 60% and 150%
of the values given in the
Player's Handbook.
 c.u ltu1e
A
riya prizes its sophisticated and wide-
spread culture, unmatched in the Khinasi
states. Ariyan scholars have gained
renown throughout Cerilia for their advances in
astrology, mathematics, and medicine. The city's
great thinkers have produced many oft-quoted
treatises on philosophy. And centuries of fine
chefs have developed Ariya's delicious cuisine: a
hundred lavishly spiced dishes of beef and lamb,
wheat, rice, and eggplant-cooked with garlic
and olive oil, and served with fresh fruit (dates,
grapes, pomegranates, some citrus), honey, and
yogurt.
wm;s of life
The Khinasi culture stresses piety, equality, fam-
ily, wisdom, courtesy, honor, grace, eloquence,
and artistic accomplishment. Each state ranks
these somewhat differently; in Ariya, piety ranks
as the cardinal virtue. Ariyans call it sayim, using
a word that in other Khinasi states means "sta-
tus" or "face." Displaying their deep connection
to Avani, Ariyans sprinkle their everyday speech
~· with invocations such as "the Lady willing" or
"but only the goddess knows." The law forbids
blasphemy, and taking a god's name in vain is
shocking rudeness.
Sayim in Ariya sometimes also means the
same things it does elsewhere in the Khinasi
lands: the achievement of honorable status
through virtue. Acts that injure sayim, such as
oathbreaking, poor hospitality, or gross displays
of anger, may provoke the offender to admit his
disgrace in public. "I am without face," the
shamed person says, then leaves his home and
possessions to undertake a voluntary exile of
months or years.
The previous ruler of Ariya, Prince Gerad,
made such an admission at the end of his reign.
Despite entreaties from his viziers and many citi-
zens, he abdicated the throne and went into soli-
tary exile. A great mystery trailed after him: How
had he lost ,(ace? No one knew (or admitted
knowing) th.ir cause. Khinasi consider inquiry
into such det~ils unspeakably rude, so the mys-
tery remains.
Love and marriage: Most marriages are
arranged between patriarchs or matriarchs of
two families who seek alliance. The Ariyan Tem-
ple's scriptures permit polygamy, so long as one
can support all one's spouses in equal comfort.
Extended families can grow to enormous sizes
with intricately tangled relationships; genealogy
is a common hobby. Despite the cultare's con-
doning~o.f pql amy; J1owever, romance outside,;
f,~ )<, ~··~ • ' '
~
 marriage-in fact, even casual contact between-."
the sexes-is considered shameful and strictly
prohibited.
Fashion: Ariyans of all classes strive to dress
well. They favor bright colors , tastefully harmo-
nized. Men wear thin, loose linen breeches, tight
high-collared shirts with loose half-length
sleeves, colorful sashes, and sometimes embroi-
dered, buttonless vests. Women dress much the
same, except that their sleeves are fastened at
the wrist for decency. Married women wear loose
shawls or capes.
Ariyans of both sexes cover their heads with
caps, scarves, or light veils. Poor people of both
f sexes go barefoot, but the wealthy spend ludi-
crous amounts on fancy shoes. The rich also
wear silver bracelets, bangles, and ankle rings, as
well as jewelry set with sapphires, topaz, emer- " acrobafic~'flips.
alds, and pearls.
I In battle, Ariyans wear improved mail or chain
mail, open-faced helms, and scimitars or sabres.
They carry medium shields and heirloom dag-
gers. Outside the city walls, sailors or herdsmen
!_
may wear leather and carry cutlasses, slings, and
sometimes bows.
the ,urts
Tr a di ti o fi frowns on the depiction of living
;.things in painting or sculpture, although scrip-
ture does not explicitly forbid it. (Historically,
J\riyans have made a single exception: monu-
· ents to eJi:>Arrasi.) Instead, the decorative arts
' velop, ~~borate abstract patterns of mathe-
01aticalpx'e Zision, and have elevated calligraphy
;~>Ci high[<i:rt. Music, written for ensembles of
~(:," ,., ·-- ,nd cymbals, can be austere or sen-
1
~ua ,. qing on the proximity of a priest.
AriY:a's stinctive and highly developed archi-
i ~ecture is"based around pointed arches, pillars,
f flo111es, cupolas, central courtyards, and, wher-
· ·1¥~~ .,,,~•.. ever possible,f fountains.
~t!o!2_gy: S~:;w~Jehing ~i§;apopul~r·l?~s~irpe, 'f T_he winner is "croWI1etl" Prince-
if legentls propcrgat~d by tHe Atiyan.-I~rnple of·:.,., xPaladh)-,_o pAriya.
-~..,,,,.,> Avani hold that Avani's light is visible day or
night to the devout worshiper. Astrology, accord-
ingly, has pervaded Ariyan society. Citizens plan
:;::::-~~ their festivals, weddings, and rites Of passage
based on omens that astrologers find in the
stars-or that would-be astrologers claim to find.
Many so-called astrologers in Ariya, espe-
cially in the provinces, are old women, lunatics,
or other unlettered people who may mean well
but who lack proficiency in astrology. People
believe their foretellings to the degree that
these pronouncements endorse the opinions
they already held.
Priests of the Ariyan Temple often learn
authentic astrology. Nothing in temple doctrine
restricts its use in any situation. Nonetheless,
custom has conferred moral sanctions on "friv-
olous" foretellings. Most priests keep close
watch on the sky for omens, but resort to
active forecasting only when in danger or in
spiritual crisis.
Dance: Social dancing is unknown, but
troupes of professional entertainers known as
"whiteslippers" (for their footgear) perform at
weddings, confirmations, and festivals. Though
each troupe includes both men and women, they
never dance together on the same stage. Instead,
women first perform a repertoire of graceful, sin-
, uous dances , then give way to the men, who leap
into hig1t'-spirited, whirling jigs full of kicks and
Tradition lets the smallest woman in each
troupe dance with the men. Masked and dressed
in a tight blouse and shorts, this acrobatic
woman always plays a mythical trickster called
Jackal Boy. During the dance, Jackal Boy capers
back and forth, leaps over enemies, and commits
pranks that deflate the prestige of his perennial
nemesis , the pompous Bogoni the Dwarf.
Because they are women dancing with men,
Jackal Boy dancers have an unearned public rep-
utation for scandalous conduct. Despite tP.is (or
perhaps because of it), popular Jackals move
freely at all levels of society. More than one
prince has invited the latest celebrity Jackal to a
palace dinner.
Games: Ariyans of all classes play chesslike
board games, especially those which feature a
moral motif. Children play a simple game,
Purit~rthat tea.c~es the vii;-t ues oLth~ iA.riy~tr-'""
• ~~""'C""'•·-~---=
Temple'~ Each chth;,l movesia ..tek~n,.,a;~ ross thet~
board; trying tO -avoid the ·"Unclea.n'' penalty
spaces (Debt, Scandal, Odor, Vice, Dishonor)
and touch all five Virtue spaces (Charity,
Hospitality, Family, Cleanliness, Sayim}. ~--··'"'-""--,,__""~,...~-"'~"""""'_,,,,~
 A
riya the Impregnable lies above a narrow
peninsula on the central southern coast.
The port is a small sheltered bay blocked
by a white marble seawall. The wall, 20 feet high and
ten thick, earned the name "Dolphin Wall" for its
antique murals of porpoises at play. It terminates in
the prince's palace, the Tower of Morning, a strong
marble citadel that protects and lights the harbor.
At the wall's far end lie the remains of a gigantic
statue of el-Arrasi erected shortly after the Great
King's death. A rare earthquake destroyed
the marble statue in 1488 Ma (0 ~R). At

t he j
that time temple mystics warnecUagainst
rebuilding it, and now the construction

-
technique~-:J!lav;!:.h
~-en;lost. ''
The city's white walls, ancient
but well-maintained, are 20 feet
thi~k and 30 feet high. In general, the
poorest parts of the city are those
closest to the walls, because of their
assoCiation with low-status soldiers. The richest
home~s lie toward the city's center. . .
All parts of town are spotlessly clean. Because
of the Temple of Avani's emphasis on cleanliness,
Ariya boasts a water system unusually advanced
by C~_rilian standards.
·Ariya has no clearly defined wards or districts,
but rather a patchwork of tiny, diverse neighbor-
hoods organized around the extended families
called geirbou. Most geirhou have held the same
hereditary homes and shops for centuriesi and these
locales have an air of great age. Because the geirhou
try to m~nopolize their particular craft or trade~ a
itizes triust"go to one neighborhood to bll,y a gold
tf!teamng and:;a~other;to· gettbootS"m~nqe~t,A day's
errands can"take one all over the-city. .~ .
Outside the walls stands Ariya's only new con-
struction, a shantytown of refugees from the war-
~__ t>.L ~~---4£U:ll,,,.~\!ntryside. This dirty m~ze of shacks has
"' $'!< ~--~-; ~$'·. ~"" ~"--become known as the ,,"T'TI:ieves~ Mar~et"j9·r iJ:.,s_=
!ll';i4l .• • ;_;
· ~~. _. 1 ~ r riminal' .J: -· ' "';'.~ .,., ~
. F .• ~a!!f>!l~:t:~~.. -- ~.c-- ~- flll\!' P{GCllreIS..~fa
· ··1l>{'rotl~ a~~~-9iS~~~eCl Ariyans- -
<'· ~'.;;;.unaceustomed to Western
faults ! find depravity in
those~ WhP fail to bathe
ieguiarly. A visitor
from a large
ean city would
n the Thieves'
l rket quiet, its
·eves inept, its
J
vices tame.
-"'~
 T he Prince-Paladin of Ariya rules one of
the greatest cities in all Cerilia,
unmatched throughout the Khinasi lands
and surpassed only by the Imperial City of
Anuire. From the prince-paladin to the merest
fisherman, Ariya's 85,000 citizens are unique
''i '" le- citi~-en
and interesting individuals.
'[.,~~ :~~~;e~;f:h~:tldl~e~l.
free to populate the domam
with their own nonplayer
no+oh ~',1
characters. Who brings the prince iced coffee in
his House of Silent Servants? What are the
palace guards like? Players should share descrip-
tions of NPCs with their DM, who can approve
or revise the description as desired. With a little
creativity, Ariya can be the most colorful and
exciting domain in the campaign.
demo~ruphics
eventy thousand people live in the city of
S Ariya; 15,000 citizens are farmers,
herders, and fisherfolk who live outside
the walls and keep the city fed. A small percent-
age of citizens are nonhumans (primarily
halflings). N onhumans are not excluded from
any social rank on the basis of race alone, for the
Ariyans believe that all beings are equal in the
I
I
sight ofrAvani. Ariyan nonhumans follow much
the same customs and practices as humans, min-
imizing friction among the races.
Less than 4,500 Ariyans have a character class
and level; only a few hundred are adventurers
above 3rd level. Almost one-third of those with a
class are low-level mages, for Khinasi society
esteems the study of magic as the greatest of arts.
Warriors are also relatively numerous and
respected (rangers, however, are practically
unknown). Though many officials in the Ariyan
Temple of Avani carry the title of "priest," less than
500 command priestly magic. Only a few dozen
" , thieves and bards practice their arts in Ariya, for
awbrea~ers are hunted relentlessly and bards are
mistrusted,:-as -idfo degenerates. They often find
better success as respectable merchants.
Ariyan society makes no official distinction
between commoners, gentry, and nobility. In prac-
tice, however, there are four social ranks:
I ~C9mmoners: Half the popula-
,tion, including almost every-
one outside the city walls,
composes the bottom
ofthe, social ladder.
Farmers, fisher-
folk, laborers,
sailors, ser-
vants, and
shopkeepers
dream ambitious dreams of rising to a better sta-
tion, whether through marriage, good luck, or
prayers to Avani.
Professionals: About a third of Ariyans make
their livings as artists, craftspeople, merchants,
traders, sea captains, navigators, and soldiers.
~ _' _ ,6,J _
Unlike other Khinasi cultures that rank soldiers
with laborers and farmers, Ariyans respect the
Swords of Avani, who are devout, dedicated, and
sometimes even educated.
Professionals earn respect according to their
decorum, dress, and artistic taste as much as
from family ties or success. A merchant who
behaves like a boor or servant is treated as one; a
farmer who speaks politely and wisely earns
respect from all.
Named families (ajazada): A lucky fifth of
the population has earned the right to family
names. Only the prince can bestow this heredi-
tary honor. Many ajazada work as artisans or
merchants, for their names alone bestow no
income; others are magicians, courtiers, priests,
and military officers. A quarter of the ajazada are
wealthy, landed families. A rare few have minor
bloodlines.
Aristocracy ( tamounzada): The elite of
Ariyan society are the so-called Two Hundred
Families who bear the name "el-Arrasi" and
thereby trace some relationship, however distant
and tortuous, to the royal family. A fractional
percentage of the populace, these 4,000 exquis-
itely refined idlers compose the vastly extended
families of governors, generals, admirals, high
priests, and royal favorites. Ariyan true wizards
are with few exceptions tamounzada-insofar as
they care for such petty distinctions. Though
bearing the regent's name, tamounzada wield lit-
tle political influence: Almost all power resides
with the prince-paladin and his bureaucracy.
The tamounzada typically bury the el-Arrasi
name in a string of surnames. In this way they
flaunt royal status without looking dangerously like
contenders for the throne.
the rovul fumilv
hough th~ prince no longer strangles all
T rival claimants for the Thousand Jewel
Throne, his siblings still endure lifelong,
if luxurious, house arrest in the Tower of Morn-
ing. They can do anything they like, have any visi-
tors, eat what they wish. They just can't leave-
ever-until they grow too old to build a following
and stage a coup d'etat.
 Currently Ariya hawklike vision, great cleverness,
the tower ~~Ids '":~ resistance to fire or to evil, the ability to
Prince Gefad's detect lies and illusions, and even the
three wives, ·~bility to step into a bonfire and emerge
Maryam, Shafika, · from another flame a continent away.
and Temadhur; his ~-
These powers work best when the regent
aunt F arida (Ba, uses them in service to the realm.
great, 28) and her dull-
witted husband,
Humayd; Salmah and
Ar;nina (both Ba, great, 32), the two surviving
people of
•
daughters of Murad (Gerad's oldest brother and his
predecessor as regent); the three sons of Gerad's
late second brother, Yusuf-Habar, Harith, and
1mportunce
A
Haroun (all Ba, great, 32)-and their four wives ll of these NPCs are humans of Khinasi
{Irina, Badra, Zimaida, Aisha); and Gerad's matri- descent, unless otherwise noted. These
archal step-grandmother Fatima (Ma, minor, 9). are exceptional figures, leaders in their
The third wife of Sehinsah the Wise, Fatima-now · fields, and not typical of the population.
75-still seethes with ambition. Note: Ariya 's lieutenants (]airo and Hadan)
Though they appear to do nothing all day but have statistics appropriate for serving Prince Gerad.
eat, listen to music, and engage in light intellectual Adjust their levels to suit your regent PC 's level,
banter, these 15 people (all 0-level Khinasi) gener- following the lieutenant guidelines in the rulebook.
ate-enough plots, intrigues, and gossip to fill a vil-
lage: Who flirted with the ambassador? Who kissed
which chambermaid? "Did you hear what he said
~efud ibn focid
about the vizier at dinner?" 'Well, it's not for me to
say, but if there's any justice from the Lady of Rea-
el-u_crusi
son, then there will be trouble from the prince!" Former Prince of Ariya, 7th-level paladin
Almost any of them could make a plausible
claim to the Thousand Jewel Throne. However, they S: 14
present no serious threat, due to their complete D: 12
lack of ability. No wonder Prince Gerad, following C: 14
an occasional practice of Ariya's rulers, adopted a I: 17
successor from outside the family: your PC. W: 16
Your PC's adoption as heir to the throne has Ch: 18
angered not only the incompetent relatives in the
tower, but even kin with only a distant claim to the AC: 10 (3)
throne. In western Ariya, for example, Gerad's dis- hp: 40
tant cousin Lord Khalil el-Arrasi (MKh; W12; Ba, MV: 12
tainted, 8 )-a descendant of el-Arras i's brother THACO: 14
Eirat-has made remarks about the succession #AT: 1
that some interpret as hostile. Lord Khalil leads a Dmg: Nil (ld8)
powerful family that administers Kfeira and Tegher
provinces, and holds several sources there. Bloodline (former):
Your character: This sourcebook assumes that Basaia, majoJ:, 36 (pefore ·,,
you are playing a new regent whom Prince Gerad investing his succe}~OE~
adopted and invested shortly before abdicating. Blood abilities (former).~.._
You may, however, make your character one of the Alertness, character read· ·
royal family who has patiently waited out his house enhanced sens.e
arrest until Prince Gerad gave up the throne. Refer (ha~l( vision;
to the family tre~~chart <Lt;iJ he g~~efold of this book. · major), unr ead-
With tneDM~s approval, yqu may play Prince ablethoughts;
Gerad and assume he has not abaieated ... The
DM can adjust his level and abilities to fit bet-
ter with other PCs in the campaign. . -~
The royal bloodline: El-Arrasi's descendants
carry in their veins a great bloodline .derived
from Basata, the old goddess of the sun;
light, fire, reason, and logic. Her ener- ·'*·
gies have given various rulers of
 Equipment: Amulet of proof against
detection and location, staff, prayer
book, diary. Before he abdicated, Prince
Gerad wore chain mail +2 and carried a
scimitar of dancing.
Typical dialogue: "I am Avani's servant, and
by her grace the Prince-Paladin of Ariya. Am I
to preside over a city that draws behind its walls
like a tortoise into a shell? Be so good as to find
me a shred of honor inside a tortoise-shell. " So
said Prince Gerad shortly before he gave up the
throne. Since his abdication, he has spoken little. putriurch
Description: 6 feet, 3 inches; 180 lbs.; age 43 .
Short, straight black hair, clean-shaven, light
brown skin. Black eyes , beetling eyebrows ,
juirn min uzedus
aquiline nose, long graceful neck, long arms and 4th-level priest of Avani
hands. Deep voice, dignified manner. Before
abdicating, Prince Gerad wore only the richest S: 9
silks beneath his mail. Now he goes unarmored D: 9
and wears a humble merchant's outfit. C: 11
Background: Handsome, well-spoken, well- I: 16
read, eloquent in defense of the faith, and skilled W: 16
in music and song, Prince Gerad embodied the Ch: 16
ideal Ariyan ruler. Grandson of the famed Sehin-
sah the Wise , the regent who ended the wasteful AC: 10
lunacy of the Nine Bad Sultans, Gerad displayed hp: 16
,the' same skillful and compassionate leadership. MV: 12
From his ascension to the throne 18 years ago, THACO: 18
he clearly felt that the ruler of Ariya should rule #AT: 1
a,ll tlie Khinasi, by example if not by decree. Dmg: Nil
· Imagine the citizens' astonishment, then, when
·a t tffe height of his popularity Prince Gerad Bloodline: Unblooded.
enteFed the throne room one morning and called Equipment: White burnooselike robes , leather
forJriS:wij:~rds and priests. At his command, they sandals, holy symbol (silver sun) , book of scrip-
exarfiiv.~d'.hirn for illusions, enchantments, charms, ture, pouch of dried fruit.
-or siniilar controls. They found none , and such is Typical dialogue: "Deliver a declaration of war
iheir~skill that no reasonable person has since on Aftane? As Your Majesty commands, so will I
. u~s"ti~!IBO their findings. Then Prince Gerad, pro- do. In confidence, Your Majesty, may I ask-
•oinicing the shameful confession "I am without purely for my own information-why we are to
ayim," formally abdicated his throne. struggle over a few miles of empty grassland? Let
's befits such an admission, he left his home , me present an alternative that possibly better
, m]ly, and"Qossessions to go into exile. No one suits the state's interest."
-., t~ e;x ' i ned .Gerad's secret shame. Even Description: 5 feet, 8 inches; 200 lbs.; age 48.
-" - o~ers, it it an unthinkable breach Short, curly gray hair, dusky skin. Hairless round
ti µette to i nquire into the details face, bright blue eyes. Wears four ornate wed-
- of aiY"'a dm1ssion such as his. , ding rings. .
"'--Gerad, who now wanders Background: A rotund and cheerful gourmand,
- the empty grasslands, Jairo combines piety with a clear appreciation of
speaks litt1e. the pleasures allowed a priest of Avani: food, ~
-~'
wives, and mathematics. He has risen to the high
priesthood, and to his position as a respected
diplomat, through his great abilities of persua-4
sion. Jairo first questions opposing parties"
closely to fina out their re~l desires, then out-
lines a scenario whereby tlrey can achieve their
ends by cooperating with the throne.
_ · Jairo is basically good-hearted andl
tends to tell people what they want to
hear. However, he sees no strategic impor.."
tance in Ariya's outer provinces, and prefers
dabbling in his hobby of algebra instead ofi
planning war with Aftane.
ruhil the fulcon cuptuin hudun
Court Mage of Ariya, 7th-level true wizard el-djefe1
S: 14 Admiral of the Golden Navy, 5th-level fighter
D: 13
C: 11 S: 13
I: 17 D: 10
W: 15 C: 14
Ch: 13 I: 14
W: 13
AC: 3 Ch: 15
hp: 21
MV: 12 AC: 4
THACO: 18 hp: 25
#AT: 1 MV: 12
Dmg: ld6+2 THACO: 16
#AT: 1
Bloodline: Masela, Dmg: ld8
minor, 19.
Blood abilities: Blood Bloodline: Unblooded.
history, detect illusion (minor). Equipment: Scale mail +2,
Equipment: Cloak of protection +3, staff of thunder cutlass, heirloom dagger, vial
and lightning (mahogany inlaid with gold wire), of cologne, zither.
ring of mind shielding, potion of healing, dust of Typical dialogue: "An attack on our harbor,
disappearance (four pinches), high-collared robe Your Majesty? Hah, let them come! I would like
of deep blue with silver embroidery, gold amulet, nothing better than to slice the Red Kings into
moleskin pouch with spell components and cutlets. On another topic, may I interest Your
reagents. Majesty in this new hymn for zither-?"
Spells memorized: Armor and stoneskin spells in Description: 5 feet, 10 inches; 190 lbs.; age 50.
effect; 1st-charm person, color spray, protection Curly black hair and beard, black eyes, scarred
from evil, sleep; 2nd-alter self, levitate , mirror stub nose, pouchy cheeks, burly build. Passion-
image; 3rd-fly, suggestion; 4th-solid fog. ate but well-spoken. Wears bright silks and
Typical dialogue: "Your Majesty will be pleased sailor's turban; smells of cologne.
to hear that Hatwa, the young gray I captured on Background: Born to a tamounzada family,
the wing in Kfeira, made his first kill this after- Hadan entered service as an under-captain 25
noon. Your Majesty should have seen him swoop! years ago. He gained honor in many battles
That pigeon never knew what hit it-New defen- against pirates and rose through the ranks by
sive spells on the walls? Of course, you have only to hard work. As admiral, Hadan has kept the fleet
ask. Is trouble looming?" in good repair and its sailors well-trained, and
Description: 6 feet, 3 inches; 180 lbs.; age 44. now seems content to relax. He occupies him-
Long black hair streaked with white, heavy eye- self with his three wives and with playing the
brows, stern face. Athletic build, proud bearing. zither. He has developed an admirable musical
Never lets go of his staff. technique and diverts himself composing hymns
Background: The loyal Court Mage of Ariya to Avani.
actually comes from a noble family in Djafra. He
studied magic in his youth, as is typical in noble
Khinasi families, and showed unusual talent.
After a long adventuring career, he arrived in
Ariya just as its court mage died. The mage's two
wretched apprentices tried to take magical con-
trol of Prince Gerad, but Rahil foiled them. In
gratitude, Gerad made Rahil his court mage, and
Rahil has served faithfully ever since.
Rahil's nickname comes from the silver falcon
embroidered on his robes, a family emblem. His
sharp insight and ruthless combat tactics inspire
thoughts pf falcons as well, and he raises falcons
as a hobBy.
 as cruelly as she says. Until information comes
udClfu hint reshoud from a more reliable source, no one can be sure.
Adara is much older than she looks. Many
8th-level true wizard know that she was born into a powerful Shoufal
family, and that she spent years studying elven
S: 9 magic in the Sielwode. Adara has revealed little
D: 10 beyond that, but she seems sincere in her hatred
C: 12 of the Red Kings.
I: 17
W:
Ch:
15
16
omudi the quick
Guildmaster of the Gold
AC: 5 Coast Coster, 6th-level thief
hp: 30
MV: 12 S:
THACO: 18 D:
#AT: ~1 C:
Dmg: ld4/by spell I:
W:
Bloodline: Vorynn, major, 22. Ch:
Blood abilities: Alter appearance, resistance
(major), unreadable thoughts. AC: 6
Equipment: Robe of blending, wand of enemy detec- hp: 24
_,,~;;tion, 1_'ing of protection +1, ring of x-ray vision, leather MV: 12 -
shoulder bag, heirloom dagger. _ THACO: 18
Spells memorized: Annor and stoneskin spells in #AT: 1
effect; same spells as Rahil the Falcon (see above) Dmg: ld4
plus these: 3rd-non-detection; ~tect scrying.
Typical dialogue: "I hope the gods may bring Bloodline: Anduiras, minor, 8.
upon these soldiers of Aftane tl1e same fate we Blood ability: Unreadable thoughts.
have known. That their children-may live in fear Equipment: Leather armor, heirloom dagger,
as ours do. That the best of their youth may die philter of glibness, stone of good luck, pouch of
like dogs, as ours have. That their old and wise betel nut.
may starve for want of food, slowly, as ours do. Typical dialogue: "Ah, Your Majesty, a very fine
And that they may seek help from all their neigh- cape you wear today! I could get you a cape still
bors, as I have, and on every side meet blank finer, ermine pelts from Djafra, for a picayune
rejection. That is what I wish for them." price, and all the profit to go to the orphanage in
Description: 5 feet, 8 inches; 140 lbs.; apparent the beggar's quarter! Can you fail to support
age 30. Black hair, black eyes, dark skin. Face such a worthy cause?"
thin and drawn, angular features. Emaciated; Description: 5 feet, 4 inches; 170 lbs.; age 30.
wears beggar's rags and veil. Intense manner. Short black hair (balding), brown eyes, clean
B~ckground: Adara is the greatest wizard of shaven, light tan skin. Quite fat; dresses in volu-
Shoufal, the city founded by Ariyan settlers but minous silks. Sparkling expression, nimble fin-
now occupied by Aftane. She has led a covert gers, pleasant attitude.
resistance effort against the Red Kings, and she Background: As guildmaster of a strong union
often asks help from Ariya. Prince of merchant houses, Omadi controls guild hold-
Gerad always sent what help he ings in four Ariyan and four Zikalan coastal
could, short of risking war, provinces.
but his efforts never satis- Omadi was born in Ariya to poor parents who
fied Adara. Some in died of illness when he was young. He grew up a
Ariya secretly ques- footloose urchin in the beggars ' quarter, surviv-
tion whether ing by his wits and fast tongue. One day a pass-
Aftane actually ing magician discerned Omadi's bloodline.
treats the Intrigued by the guttersnipe's scion status, he
people of took the boy on as an apprentice. But Omadi,
Shoufal though bright, had no talent for magic. The
magician passed him along to a merchant friend,
and there Omadi excelled.
His talent for negotiation and salesmanship
brought him wealth and eventually leadership of
 the Gold Coast Coster. It also brought him the
enmity of the malevolent Brotherhood of Khet,
which seeks dominion over all guild holdings in
the Khinasi lands. Despite several assassination
attempts (their failure earned Omadi his nick-
name), the Brotherhood has not destroyed
Omadi's -enthusiasm.
· ~~He has earned the friendship of many Ariyans
tlito1,1gh;llis charitable works in the beggar's quar-
ter-wheFe .he grew up. Omadi now believes he was
.th~:i:ll~gititp.ate son of an Anuirean adventurer, and
dreams of finding his blooded parent some_d ay to
show offtlie success he has made of himself.
_--3-PmadiHs unmarried , pious , and seemingly
interest~Cl -only _ i n business and charity. His only
vi~e is a taste for betel nut, a palm seed imported
ffotn the island domains to the east. Chewed S: 6
· with a rpii ture of lime , cardamom, and spices , D: 10
., betel nut:produces a mild stimulation similar to C: 8
strong coffee. Omadi has been trying to quit I: 17
since the Brotherhood of Khet attempted to poi- W: 9
son him w,ith adulterated betel. Ch: 7

-~~urn bukubussi AC:

hp:
10
4

Bloodline: Unblooded.
8 Equipment: Sheaf of
16 paper, quill, ink, books.
13 Description: Fethiye is a
13 young, ambitious , and some-
12 what talented civil servant.
16 Short, very thin, unable to grow a
beard, and a bit squirrely, the 26-year-old pro-
AC: 10 jects an unimpressive appearance. He resents
hp: 6 what he perceives as slow advancement, although
MV: 12 his diligence and encyclopedic memory have in
THACO: 20 fact propelled him far.
#AT: 1 Some of his insights , such as his warnings
Dmg: ld4 about Ariya's dangerous complacency, may serve
the regent well . However, Fethiye lacks tact,
Bloodline: Unblooded. snoops into everyone 's business , and is too out-
Equipment: Oud (stringed instrument). spoken for a vizier. Fethiye 's perpetual attempts
Typical dialogue: "Best we move carefully down to draw the regent's notice (see pages 2-3) work
this alley, Your Majesty. Old Hurban, he lives in ·well as comie- relief.
that crate there, sometimes he gets a bit con-
fused and thinks he's fighting pirates."
Description: 5 feet; 90 lbs.; age 18. Short straight
black hair, blue eyes, brown skin. Clothing varies ,
but always offers freedom of movement. Manner
may vary dramatically, though often impish.
Background: This small, lithe woman is cur-
rently Ariya's most fashionable Jackal Boy
dancer (see page 15). Though young; she
speaks and carries herself with adult poise
and seems completely at home in every
level of society. She has kept her own
origins a secret, but she encour-
ages speculation.
T
he print ;;paladin holJ s a law (4) in the
city of Ariy,a~ the Swords of Avani , six
army units with police and civic duties.
In coastal Kfeira, a law -~2), and Kouzir, a law ( 1),
the regent's authority derives from constables at
roadside caravanserais and from the Golden
Navy, which makes regular patrols and landings
as necessary. One fortified caravanserai (of level
2) in each of these provinces provides quarters
for troops on the march. The prince also holds a
law ( 1) in_ Tegher:
In Kfeira and in Tegher, a collateral branch of
the el-Arrasi family governs in the prince-
paladin's name , although the family leader; Lord
Khalil el-Arrasi, is no friend of the regent. Khalil
(MKb; W12; Ba, tainted, 8) is a distant cousiq of
the royalJamily, descended from el-Arrasi 's
brother Eitat (see page 8). For centuries, Eirat's
progeny have resented el-Arrasi's line for what
they perceive as the Great King's insulting and
unwarranted treatment of the~r forefather. Like
many of his ancestors, Khalil has voiced ambi-
tions for the throne. He says o!¥y a ruler wise in
magic can guide Ariya through' its current trou-
bles. Khalil stu~ies magic, buf few ai-e aware of
· . ~ his- - e >' ,a,nd ability. <c~ _
"The neai:ly empty eastern
ces·it_v longer obey the
;$ .
·;· p.rfice:;paladin's rule.
Alfhvfigh Assarif, Aze-
t das, and Djef
_el-Kadir
temples ,
he prince-pa.l adin is Lord High~atriare
T
of t he Any~n Temple of Avan1 and, as .
such, conkols most of the temple hold-
ings in Ariya: a temple (5) in Ariya ·province, a
(2) in Kfeira, a ( 1)_in Kouzir, and a ( 1) in Tegher.
. These holdii;]gs rep£esent regional temples (one
or two per~ptovihce) of up to 100 priests,
acolytes, scribes, and attendants; smaller shrines
sc~tt,~red ~c!pss each province; and the giant
Central Templ<{ in the city of Ariya.
The~'Temple of the Ancients , a small and
benig!i.-.:Sect of Nasri (the sea goddess, known in
%mire as ·N~sirie), has a holding (2) in the Mag-
nificent City and a (1) in eastern Azedas. More
threatening is the holding ( 1) in Assarif of the
J ifemple of Khirdai, god of storms and conflict
·· (known as Cuiraecen in Anuire). The Red Kings
of Attane support this temple, and its work is
. ~their work.
No one has temple holdings in Djef el-Kadir,
which is nearly empty after centuries of war with
Aftane.
the afi-g~n temple
of QVQfil
One of many Khinasi faiths that follow the
goddess of the sun, light, fire, and
reason, the Ariyan Temple of Avani
emphasizes purity of body, mind,
- and spirit. Followers try to burn
 away impurities through diligent prayer, moral
conduct, and unyielding denial of the Five
Tempters: debt, family shame or betrayal, dirti-
ness, vice (a large category including theft, intox-
ication, laziness, and adultery), and dishonor
(including blasphemy and failure to pray).
Intoxicants stronger than coffee muddy the
mind and are therefore prohibited. No physical
_contact of a sexual nature is permitted outside
marriage, although the temple condones the
practice of having multiple spouses-so long as
one can support them all equally well . Lying,
notably, is not prohibited. The temple does not
discourage greed nor prohibit moneylending or
other business practices, except that one must
wash after engaging in them.
The Prince-Paladin of Ariya has ultimate
authority in the temple, but subordinate priests
exercise great influence. During her influential
tenure, a charismatic priestess named Riza hint
Nisanyan (1997-2028 MA) brought the Third
Tempter-dirtiness-to new prominence. She
established complete physical cleanliness as the
mark of piety, and preached that the most awful
fates awaited followers who allowed soil in the
home or on the person. Fountains had always
been an important symbol in the Temple of Avani,
but under Riza's command they became essential
everywhere in Ariya. She also popularized hospi-
tal care, the extermination of vermin, maternity
houses (set well apart from other buildings) for
delivering babies, and cremation of the dead.
Riza died of poisoning when, during an especially
strenuous spring cleaning of the Central Temple,
she accidentally swallowed ammonia.
Prayer
In Ariya, temples to Avani feature a large central
dome surrounded by four vaulted halls called
eyvans. In each eyvan stand many pillars, their
number and type dictated by omens discerned
during the temple's construction. Because all
beings are considered equal in the sight of Avani
(the reason for the prohibition of slaver;r-4, tll"'e
temple features no altar, pulpit, or dais. The
priest must preach while standing among the
faithful. A beautiful fountain bubbles at the
center of the floor under the dome.
Outside the temple stand more
fountains, with benches where
the faithful may wash their
hands, face, and feet
before entering. By law,
the prince-paladin
must wash at the
same fountain
the citizens
use, but
 the temple's priests may clear
others from the courtyard before
the regent washes.
A library pr scriptorilim often
· stands near the temple, for
Avani encourages learning.
Soldiers, expectant moth-
ers, and the ill or disabled
are exempt from mandatory
prayer but all other citizens
pray to Avani at dawn, noon-
tide, and sunset. The priest
calls them to prayer from atop
the tallest eyvan. To pray, one first
stands quietly facing the sun (or, at
noon, looking up), then bows, kneels, and
finally lies face down, murmuring invocations
~· all the--yy_hile. Aft~Lperforming this rite five _
~times, the worshiper rises, drinks from the cen- ·
tral"' fountain, and leaves quietly.
·- ~ilds
ecause the prince prosecutes thieves
B mercilessly in Ariya, rogues run legal
merchant houses as covers. Often these
operations become more lucrative than thieving,
although even the most respectable guilds prac-
tice a certain amount of espionage against rivals.
A merchant union called the Gold Coast
Coster, run by Omadi the Quick (see page 23),
owns the guild holdings of Ariya's coastal
provinces- a (3) in Ariya, a (1) in Azedas, a (2)
in Kfeira, and a ( 1) in Kouzir. The Coster also
controls holdings totaling 6 levels in the four
southeastern provinces of Zikala.
Holdings in Ariya's outlying provinces-a ( 1) in
Assarif, a (1) in Djef el-Kadir, a (2) in Tegher, and a
><-,, (2) in the northern reaches of Ariya-belong to an
- ··"aggressive competitor from Aftane, the mysterious
and sinister Brotherhood of Khet. Khet coerces
merchants into its fold using bribery, strong-arm
tactics, and assassination. The Brotherhood has
enlisted most of the Cattle Dynasties that drive
vast herds across the savannahs, and its
assassins have made three
attempts on Omadi's life. No
one knows who leads the
Brotherhood.
The Prince-Paladin
of Ariya holds a
guild (1) in
Ariya province. Since the time of el-Arrasi, the
city-state's ruler has enjoyed a monopoly on the
construction of fountains and waterworks.
Despite its huge range of activities across
eight provinces, the Gold Coast Coster does not
own a single ship. Rather, suppliers from a dozen
domains use Omadi as a middleman. Through
personal charisma, shrewd politics, and good
markups, Omadi keeps his consortium of three
dozen small guilds in tight order. He dislikes
large meetings of all these guild heads, preferring
to confer with one or two at a time in his bath-
house. Omadi spends so much time in the bath-
house that, his friends claim, he is now perma-
, ,p ently immune to dirt. .,
ih~~·buthhouse
Temple scripture calls business "the work of this
world, like grubbing in the soil," and states that
participants must wash away the spiritual stain
of materialism. Because of this edict, many busi-
ness owners have taken to negotiating in bath-
houses.
An Ariyan bathhouse is a spectacular fantasy
of white marble walls, bronze columns, and
glazed ceramic tile. It consists of an antecham-
ber and adjacent disrobing room, a cold room
with swimming pool, a warm room, and a steam
room, as well as storage rooms and an office. In
some houses, servants oil or massage the bathers.
Men and women bathe separately. Large
houses are split in half, with half assigned to
each gender, but in small houses men and women
simply bathe at different times. All races are per-
mitted, but children may not enter.
Bathhouse servants move unseen through hid-
den passages or tunnels under the house.
Beneath the steam room, in a low area called the
hypocaust, servants heat water from a nearby
well or aqueduct in a brass boiler or furnace.
Ordinary fire may generate the heat, but larger
houses use magical items, spells, or even captive
fire elementals. Temperatures can reach 150
degrees Fahrenheit in the steam room.
Rumors persist of intruders who eavesdrop on
sensitive steam-room deals by crawling into the
hypocaust below. Without protection from the
terrible heat, these listeners (if there are such)
would be roasted alive.
sources
A
riya's court mage, Rahil the Falcon, con-
trols all the sources in the state. He has
one in each province: a source (0) in
Ariya, a ( 1) in Assarif, a ( 1) in Azedas, a (4) in
Djef el-Kadir, a (3) in Kouzir, a (4) in Kfeira, and
a (3) in Tegher. Rahil also controls a source ( 5) in
 the province-of Barsefat ~in southern .Aftifie.-
The sources are ancient underground cities
constructed by the early worshipers of Avani. To
escape persecution by the established temples,
whole villages would retreat to these huge
labyrinths, along with their livestock. The largest
ones reached seven to nine levels in the earth,
down to just above the water table. Wide air
shafts provided ventilation, light, access (by lad-
der) and easy communication (by shouting)
between levels, and fresh water from below. Sev-
eral thousand people could live for months at a
time in these colossal anthills.
The magicians and wizards of the time devel-
oped ways of drawing mebbaigbl (magical
essence), gathered and concentrated from the
plains above, to these cities to power spells that
-prevented tqeir detection. When· the-Temple of .
Avani became the domain's official faith, villagers
closed an d eventually forgot about the under-
ground cities. But their magical power remained.
Today Rahfl the Falcon believes that he alone
knows their location. He has forged ley lines to
tap their power without visiting them and risking
their discovery by others.
Nonetheless, Rahil still must patrol the cities
more often than he likes. The constant darkness
and high magical power of the underground
cities make them susceptible to breaches into the
Shadow World. Undead walkers from that
strange dark land occasionally shamble into the
cities, temporarily corrupting their magical
essence. To discourage this, Rahil inspects the
cities every season or so.
incomeund
eRpenses
E
inancially Ariya is in perilous shape. The
city-state's income amounts to about 23
GB per season (domain turn), a moderate
sum. But routine expenses-and a lavish court-
consume all these funds.
Taxes and collections: Assuming moderate
taxation, the four provinces in which the regent
controls law holdings produce an average of 12
GB per turn. Prince Gerag ceased collecting
taxes in the other three provinces to help boost
loyaJty, though the new re~ent could tax lighdy
without causing rebellion. The prince-paladin
also receives income from his temple holdings
(about 7 GB per turn) and guild holding (about 2
GB per turn).
Tribute: Omadi the Quick, of the Gold Coast
Coster, pays the regent a tribute of 2 GB per
turn for the lucrative trade route he has estab-
lished from the port of Ariya to eastern Khinasi
domains. The regent collects no tribute from the
tiny Temple of the Ancients, nor from the secre-
tive Brotherhood of Khet. Trying to collect from
the Temple of Khirdai might provoke a war.
Domain maintenance: The regent's seven
provinces, four law holdings, four temples, and
one guild holding together cost 3 GB per turn.
Fortifications require additional maintenance:
The Tower of Morning and the two fortified cara-
vanserais in Kouzir and Kfeira cost an additional
1 GB apiece per turn (tofal 3).
Payroll for Ariya's six army units amounts to 6
GB per turn-1 per unit. The Golden Navy costs
3 GB to maintain. Total: 16 GB.
All remaining revenue goes to maintain the
prince-paladin's opulent court. Fine food! Luxu-
riant furnishings! Festivals each month! As a pal-
adin of Avani, the regent himself disavows this
wealth and lives simply. But the large royal fam-
ily demands money for their extravagant lifestyle,
and the temple Hriests ask for great festivals to
maintain the people's loyalty and piety.
Because of its high expenditures, the court of
Ariya is a major force in the city's economy.
Reducing the court's cost may seem the obvious
first step toward fiscal sanity, but the regent
could face grave consequences. [These ponse-
quences, wbiifn may include loyalty reductions or
palace intrigues, are left to the DM's disc1'~tion.]
The treasury: Ariya's treasury holds a mere
18 GB as the new regent takes the Thousand
Jewel Tnrone-it has been slowly, steadily
depletedover generations. Fortunately, Prince
Gerad managed to stop its decline, if not help
rebuild-it.
 en the prince-paladin looks out across
his city from high atop the Tower of
Morning and considers the many crises
facing Ariya, he may well wonder how the city has
survived this long. Some of the following intelli-
gence, gathered from nobles , priests, and secret
informants, presents new trouble, but some
offers an opportunity for the city-state to face its
problems and overcome them.
1umo_cs und
plots
'A ll these rumors and plots can lead
PCs into new adventures. Players
should look them over and indicate to
the D M which ones they; would like to pursue
in a campaign.
u pimte buSe?
-The piracy problem off the ,Sun Coast varies in
'seriousness from year to year, but for the last
three years one ship, the Black Arrow, has plun-
dered Khinasi vessels with unusual vigor. Some-
how it has escaped capture by Ariya's Golden
Navy. Reports claim that the~Black Arrow can
- submerge and move underwater.
-~ The captain of the navy, H a dan el-Djefer,
believes that the Black Arrow use~ a secret har-
bor somewhere in Kouzir. Despite frequent
searches along the province's shore, no one
found ~he pirate harbor-until two days ago.
A nary dhoura was investigating reports that
the giant ~urtle Eirat the Troublesome (see page 8)
had move'd. east of the port of Ariya, far"'"°outside his
usual territory. The dhoura accidentally found
Eirat, but he spared the vessel in return for a favor.
Eirat insisted that the ship land on an ingonspicu-
ous stretch of shore and send a sailor inland. "Tell
her I must be pai€t!" said Eirat, but refused'fo iden-
tify "her" or the payxnent he expected.
A detachment of~ailors crossed a narrow bight
of land and found a lagoon. There rested the Black
Arrow, and beside it a camp. The sailors spotted
the~s
--h-_·__'s_ notorious pi-ra-t-e _c a_pta_in_ , s_a-ri oint
Bedi __ , and perhaps t fe,~d_ol~w mem~e_:s.
Ou -, :umbered 1d --~f ~. ~~ture~h._~ sailors
flecf;' ' 5ld Eir el ·;ye:;re the-met~ e, ·
ifi
- and sailed at top speed for Ariya.
The evidence indicates that Sari has enlisted
Eirat to aid her piracy. But how is he aiding
her, and what could she pay him? The turtle
wants nothing more than to return to human
form. Though a talented rogue , Sari is not
known to have magical skills. Has she recruited
a wizard?
Navy morale has dropped at the prospect of
facing notorious pirates in their lair. Captain
Hadan has suggested that if the prince-paladin
himself were to lead the raid, his sailors would
rally around their leader. And the suspected
involvement of Eirat renders the prince's partic-
ipation even more vital: By el-Arrasi's ancient
decree, no one but Ariya's regent may attack
the turtle.
ancient evil
beneath the citi;
Ariya is built on the site of a Masetian city called
Saria. For a brief period during the Masetian's
reign, evil infested Saria. A sinister cult led by
the high priest Iagostes tried to turn people from
the true gods by sponsoring state worship of a
series of increasingly feeble regents. One of the
last of these, Rimanos Saria ("the Deranged"),
decreed the construction of secret catacombs
under the cult's principal temple. Cult priests
used these catacombs, the Labyrinth of Reason,
to initiate new recruits into the twisted philoso-
phies of their order.
When the Masetians attacked and destroyed
the cult, they demolished the temple without
learning of the catacombs. The labyrinth's exis-
tence came to light only recently, during the reign
of Prince Gerad. An Old City coffee house owner
stumbled upon a side tunnel of the labyrinth while
expanding his basement storage area.
Prince Gerad
 tunnels that held nothing of interest. That night,
all four men got into separate arguments,
declared their honor violated, and died the next
morning in duels.
The next day someone made the connection.
Upon hearing the news, Prince Gerad ordered
the labyrinth entrance sealed, but by that time
several groups of coffee house customers, gawk-
ers, and children had innocently visited the tun-
nels. All emerged unharmed, but no one knows
their whereabouts and activities since then. That
was several years ago.
A few days ago, Harith (a family member in
House of Sile~t Servants) found an unsigned
aote pirwed to a ·window sill in the TQwer of , ~
Mornii.)g_:.::.four stories up--:-oh the outsidi¥r · '#fl'/
fo; ~·.~
-- #''
Philosophy is written in th.is grand book-I mean
· the universe-which stands continually open to our
gaze, but it cannot be understood unless one first
learns to comprehend the language and interpret the
characters in which it is written. It is written in the
language of Masela, and its characters are blood
and thought and spirit, without which it is humanly
impossible to understand a single word of it. With-
out these, one is wandering about in a dark
labyrinth.
Though it hardly seemed a warning itself, this
enigmatic note has prompted some of the new
regent's viziers to propose a more serious expedi-
tion into the Labyrinth of Reason. With clues to
its traps, and to the ways it affects the mind, the
prince might then be able to track down the peo-
ple whom it has affected-who possibly now con-
tinue the work of a long-dead cult.
sphinR trnuble
You have received a new plea for help from the
wizard Adara hint Reshoud in the northern
province of Shoufal. For all her skill in magic,
Adara shows still greater skill in composing pleas
for help. Now she claims the awnshegh called the
Sphinx, whose domain lies a few days' ride
northeast of Shoufal, has sent spies and assassins
to cause chaos in the city. Supposedly the Sphinx
hopes to weaken Aftane's control before invading
with military forces.
Adara has proven herself fairly trustworthy, if
a bit self-centered and obsessive. Her powerful
sources of magic could aid Ariya in an emer-
gency. It is in the state's interest to keep her alive
and in power in Shoufal. But she has cried
sphinx before, causing Ariya to place its forces in
danger to no good purpose. Now, with the coun-
tryside around Shoufal depopulated by continual
war, the prince-paladin has no one there he
;ctrusts to deliver good intelligence.
The regent may feel this situation
warrants personal attention. If he
investigates the situation in
Shoufal himself, in disguise, he
·can determine first whether to
aid Adara, and then how to· set
up a reliable information net-
work there. Of course, getting
into Shoufal, past troops of
Aftane and perhaps spies of
the Sphinx, will prove danger-
ous. And if Adara finds that
Ariya's regent seeks alternative
sources of information, she Will con-
strue his lack of faith as an insult. -
shundore's
holg ambition
For years, particularly in recent seas:0ns, the -~
Exalted High Priestess Shandare (FKh; Pr9,
Avani; Ba, major, 39) has promoted her religion
in neighboring Zikala. As leader of the ancient
Zikalan Temple of Avani, Shandare controls all
the temple holdings in Zikala, has expanded into
Binsada, and now wants control of Ariya's tem-
ples as well.
The doctrines of the Zikalan Temple concur
in most respects with those of the Ariyan Tem-
ple. Therefore many suspect that, though Shan-
dare seems sincere in her faith, her urge to
expand has less to do with supposed failings of
the Ariyan Temple than with her desire for
power.
Yesterday one of the falcons kept by Ariya's
court mage, Rahil the Falcon, downed a pigeon
flying east over northern Kfeira. A capsule
attached to the pigeon's leg contained a coded
message that Rahil has deciphered: Yes on
ally/meet 3 d!I of Ghost/E harbor/moonrise/secret.
Apparently a secret rendezvous on the Isle of.
Ghosts will take place at moonrise three days ·
hence. Through magic, Rahil was able to aivine
Shandare as the note's sender and surmise one or
more of the Red Kings of Aftane as the pigeon's
destination. ,
The Isle of Ghosts is a province-sized
jungle a day's sail southeast of Ariya.
One of many wooded islands in
the Sea of the Golden Sun, it.
has sheltered pirates in the
past but, by all
reports, is
currently
unoccupied.
29
 An alliance between Shandare and the Red
Kings can mean no good for Ariya. If the prince-
paladin could arrange an ambush, he might solve
two problems at once. Or he might find himself
badly.overmatched by deadly magic and fanatical
enemies.
'5utewuv to the
shudow world
Rahil the Falcon has reported trouble in one of
the ancient underground cities from which he
derives magical power. This one, in Kfeira (a.k.a.
"the middle of nowhere"), was supposedly
deserted like the others. But on a recent visit,
Rahil encountered visitors he believes came from
the Shadow World.
U ndead warriors now explore the city called
Morikuyu (meaning "dark well, " for the deep
water supply that has flooded the lowest of its
nine levels). Although all the subterranean cities
are separated only slightly from the Shadow
World-a parallel realm of endless cold twilight-
in this city a breach has occurred in the thin bor-
der between worlds. If the breach spreads to
other cities, and if the tindead find their way to
the surface. . . .
The prince-paladin must act quickly but care-
fully. He might want to handle the situation
., per~9na(lly to keep it quiet-Rahil has made it
clear· tlfat Ariya cannot affotd..to reveal the
secref locations of.the citiesr. ..A small force
'c ould grobably reach Morikuyu Without attract- ~ ·-. their own-so long as they fakitreare t
·ng,atterition. Perhaps Rahil can somehow seal ..:·the balance oh'.he campaign and don't propose
·he i;hreach if the group can guard him from
undead.attacks. But if the strike fails, matters " m4ch fun woul'd -·iegency be then?,,.
.;will look bleak indeed. . i;
Serpent, and an elite army of Serpent Guards.
Despite his lack of creativity in names, the Ser-
pent has shown cunning in infiltrating many Khi-
nasi domains. Ariya has remained relatively free
of his influence-so far.
Now an informant, a loyal geirhou cooper
who lives near the Temple of the Ancients in
Ariya 's New City district, claims that he has
seen agents of the Serpent. Last night the wright
ventured outside the walls and into the "Thieves'
Market" shanty town, searching for-as he put
it-"companionship. " He passed near the Mid-
night's Shadow, a tavern and wine shop (rare
and scandalous in Ariya, where coffee houses
are the usual gathering places). While answering
a call of nature in the shadowed alleyway beside
the tavern, the wright noticed two slinking fig-
ures emerge from the back, mutter some words,
and (so the ~qooper says) change into snakes!
They slith e'j~'a away into darkness, and the
wright ran altahe way across town to inform the
regent, pausing only to pray at every single tem-
ple along the way.
sec1ets
T he Khinasi speak of giving freely to
strangers but keeping some thipgs from
one's closest friend:s.;- Like any~ regent in
C ~rilia:;"'-a J9t~c:isi rufer '. keeps· state secrets thai
m4y\lte)piii:('~~ isiiilR~ie ar,e a few that_ belo ~s
to ithe:'p rinc - alacfin .IJ'h e,,DM may appro ·
otners:-so-,.playets shoultl t r)r inventil! ·
secret th~t il)sJaQ~lX solves all problems. How
·

if-Ilerse1penHslith~s'l ii whv ~erudSei:ya,n\~,las-

ul;#i,~~t~d~
~ .• .

<

~.e~;~ei The House of Silent safos

Far to· the east; -among the island domains of-the that open·only at the-teue~£4theor~ghtful0r~ge~ij.: ,-. •·
jftri B eeps, lies the realm of the Serpent. This :After the riew pdnce-paladirvgai!l~~~~I!~ tlron~t>~i!
ancient awnshegh who claims divinity has spent his senior vizier showed him one ·slldrpsafe·in the _,
centuries developing his skills in magic, diplo- regent's bedchamber, then left the room. Inside
macy, and intrigue. He exerts himself to the was a letter:
utmost.in--all thr ee areas to capture scion~ .<incl . .
' "'" selie tbeir bloodline strength. - - ~~- ..,. _ · fo"my successor:
>,

Unseen within his palace labyrinth, the Serpent
commands tremendous resources: a network of
assassins and thieves called the
Society of the Serpent,
a temple known
as the Sons
of the
I give you the Scepter of Office far sooner than I
had intended to relinquish it. May you hold it bet-
ter than I did!
A secret passage within the wall of the this cham-
ber leads to an inconspicuous exit outside the
palace walls. The senior vizier will show it to you.
Four people now know of it: me, the vizier, you-
and one other.
I used this passage often to go unseen into the
city. Once, dressed as a merchant, I met a young
 woman who sold spices in the bazaar. When ]-.. . illegitimacy. If el-Mesir speaks truly, Shandare
returned to the palace, I had my magicians and
priests examine me with meticulous care, suspecting
some kind of magical charm, but they found noth-
ing. I had fallen prey to an older and subtler magic
than theirs: love.
Even this will not seem so absurd as what follows.
I, who have three wives and could easily support a
hundred more , pursued an illicit affair with this
woman, in violation of honor, piety, and my oaths to
Avani. She never knew my true identity. I believe
the very shame of the affair made the woman all the
more appealing to me.
Ultimately I decided honor required me to
marry her, or at least bring her into the House of
Silent Servants. I planned this as a surprise to
delight her. Six days ago I showed her the secret
tunnel entrance and gave her a key, without fthem,efti~ay. Here's the first. Take advantage of
telling her where it led; she was to use it that
night. When she arrived in my chamber, I would
reveal all. But she never appeared, that night or
since, and she has vanished from the bazaar. My
trusted servants sought her across the city without
knowing why, but she is gone.
I had t13e locks changed on the passage entrance
s
and exit, then sought Avani help in prayer. But the
Lady of Reason had deserted me long ago, and only
in this ct;isis did I realize it. I have forfeited the paramour, whom he meets regularly at her
'~, privilege df~'S,erving he.r, and possibly I have endan-
"'i. gered everyone in the palace.
No one, save you and I, knows this sordid story.
~u ~ndn,st;ind that for the good of Ariya, it must
emain,,seeret.
Peace::~'-fpd wisdom on your path,
G: 'f·•·"·~ ..
.+~.~,·
;,· ,£"'--': .. Ufe's dou'5hte1
still loves her lost daughter deeply, and wishes to
reunite with her. What would the high priestess
give for this?
El-Mesir knows who and where the daughter
is, but has not told Ariya's prince.
uchunceut
thtved kin'5s
A voice in the night awakened the new prince-
paladin. A thin black-clad woman, her face
veiled, crouched on the high gilded footboard of
his bed. "Don't call your guards," she said. "I
mean no harm. Call me Turiye. I know how you
·can de &f roy th.e Red Kings of Aftane-six of
thi S:~nd I'U bring you more." She tossed a
packet of parchment on the bed.
Ignoring the regent's questions, she leaped
nimbly to the floor, then jumped headlong out an
open window. The prince looked for a body
below, a flying shape above-nothing.
The parchment notes identify Arlando el-
Adaba (MK.h; B10; Re, minor, 15), the Red Her-
ald, as one of the Red Kings. Arlando has a
home in lt he Dim Light Quarter of Af).aba.
Addresses, schedules, his defenses: The notes
contain ,all. With this information Ariya's regent
could set up an ambush for Arlando and kill
him-if~the prince-paladin considers such con-
duct hoii.brable.
"Six ~f them, anyway," the midnight visitor
said-sq pf the seven Red Kings of Aftane. Could
this wonian, herself be the seventh? ~~""'""$%';~~,;.;.;
>

· ifhe'\ o cf . age-king of Me sire, the Emir Yousef

Jbn Reghll el-Mesir (MKb; WB: c.&r, major, 26), has
fp uqued fortp.al alliance with Ariya for years
without succ~ss. His honor is beyond question,
t IJ~f!i~y·~.om~in;s ·securi.,,µr ~s too pr~~arious~~'i.t~ \~~,
At1yafto risk guarantees of protection~
Still, el-Mesir tries. Recently, to impress
Ariya's new regent with his domain's ability to
gather intelligence, el-Mesir offered a tantalizing
~-"'*'
secret about High Priestess Sharidare of Zikala:
~--· Shandare has an illegitimate daughter.
Apparently the priestess had a wayward past
before serving Avani. Although the Zikalan Tem-
ple permits married women to become priests,
Shandare never married; perhaps she did not
wish to share power with another. The temple
frowns on parents of illegitimate children, and
so, many years ago, Shandare gave up her daugh-
ter for adoption. Now Shandare has risen so
high that she can simply remove the
temple's prohibition of
 A riya faces dangers across its borders, but
take care that you do not become a
greater danger as prince-paladin.
Though its influence has dwindled and enemies
threaten its existence, Ariya embodies one of the
most successful and interesting cultures in Cer-
ilia. Try to achieve more than simply turning your
domain into a war machine.
motivate vour peoRI,e
To overcome Ariyan complacency, speak 1t~ them
of their history a!fft -c·ulture, of the gl~rie\that
are their legacy,,_ and of the injustices:rn eing per-
petrated across the -borders. Ariyan citizens will
never think of the countryside as worthwhile or
interesting until they see practical benefits from
protecting the land-not something sljbtle like
cheaper beef from the Cattle tf>xna[«ties ; but'"·
more dramatic, like the trade goo-ctraat"i"ome
from distant'lands-when caravans travel secure
routes. As regent, you can popularize these ideas
with ceremorties and festivals_. . ·
reduce court spendin~
The state budget teeters on the brink of deficit.
Your r,elatives will squawk, and the guilds who sur-
vive off the largesse of the court will moan, and
evezy_yizier will off~r twelve cogent re~sons why
the court must be maintained as is-bu! you have
to trim expenses. This step calls for original think-
ing. Try to devise face-saving ways to r~uce your
own expenditures and get others to do tlie same.
ovoid u two-front:wor
t thi~~'point, wa,~~\tj~bAftane loob inevitable. To
v.the we~t.~li9jV~v~j5~~itf:~ap-''stillfes~ue -,
-in Zikala. The ·pro6lein'lies airnosf en ,
·:' ation
th the
High Priestess Shandare's zealous religious cru-
sade. With the Sphinx's impregnable domc(m to the
~----'-'"""'~-,-~llQ.rth_,_Shandare has nowhere to expand except
,...._,, ,,.;--into Ariycror yout" allr,B W&ada.
:Y()u 01ight cl,elay~heE~militacy. . ~ U:hieat~::-Yotalready hale ample cause for wa; :,
Jt foifS::by ~authorizing her to
·""estabHsh the Zikalan Tem-
ple of A\tani in your bor-
der prpY.Jpce$ of Kfeiia
and~T~gher. Pacifica-
- - n of a fanatic
-snot work in
png term, but
!t might quiet
handare long
~gh for you to
,'3'·
; Ariya to these perilous borders, you may elect
,;f
" . h
a mre to t ._«
new re'!ent
conclude your war with Aftane and fortify your-
self against Shandare's holy armies.
Alternatively, you might find a way to bolster
the influence of Zikala's general, Khasan el-Zisef,
when lie· advises the weak-willed Grand Vizier,
Omar ibn Tuarim el-Zisef (MKb; W4; An, major,
36). Zikalan conspirators undermine Khasan
constantly, and so Omar pays little heed to his
wise counsel.
ullv with mesire-
eventuulh;
Ariya's regents have been friendly toward the el-
Mesirs for centuries , and the people of Mesire
hate all the aggressors that Ariyans hate. Given
Mesire's powerful mage-king and its small but
well-trained military, it should make an excellent
ally. But the tiny two-province state is likely prey . -~
for Aftane, corrupt Djafra, or the hideous Black /"
Sp~ar gnolls of the Great Yhan, Garak zu J;
Turbun (MM; F9; Az, minor, 12). Perhaps yon
should wait a few seasons to assess the domaitfist-,
prospects before making a commitment· yc1u ~~
cannot~r _w ould prefer not-keep. · ""~ ,
wu_r with uftune
to the deuth
You can achieve _nothing lasting in Afiya whil ·
longtime enemy, Aftane , grows to the easij~ I! " -
north. Now that the Red Kings }iave achieved__,,
PQ.J\'.:eriher~ , Aftane r~1~re;,s~n~--s ari even grea
long-standing grievance over your four northern
prpvinces, which Aftane has stolen a dozen times.
When you have pacified Zikala, build your forces,
strike:iqili~kly: and seize Affiilie's capital. (You might ,~,.,
find help in Mesire.) Find, fight, and dethrone the
Red Kings. (You will certainly need aid from adven-
turers of proven talent.) If possible, destroy the mys-
terious Brotherhood of Khet. (You may need help
from characters who know the ways of rogues.)
Aftane abuts the Tarvan Wastes and several
monster-haunted regions. Rather than extend
to let Aftane stay as a puppet domain
under leadership of your choosing.
I
€
 THE ToihrER OF MORNING

11XRE1401
rfu.:.iif.
.. ¥,.

Ariyan Temple Grove Fortified

of Avani Caravans

Temple of the Water Hole Ley Line

Ancients
fl# Route
Trade

Temple of
rmirdai
 AriYo
Founded: Circa 525 MA,. original
Masetian city, Saria, founded circa
12 MA'
TeITain: Plains.
Population: 85,000.
Government: Theocracy (Ariyan Temple
of Avani).
Ruler: The Lord-Prince, a paladin, is
Lord High Patriarch of the Ariyan Temple
of Avani and controls most law and
temple holdings.
Capital: City of Ariya (pop. 70,000).
Other Regents: Rahil the Falcon, Court
Mage (sources); Omadi the Quick,
Guildmaster of Gold Coast Coster;
Brotherhood of Khet (guild); Temple of
the Ancients, sect of riasri (temple);
Temple of Khirdai, based in Aftane
(temple),. Red Kings of Aftane (law).
Economy: Beef, leather, dairy products,
crafts, manufacturing.
Treasury: 18 Gold Bars.
Provinces:
iinar.a?- ObrukADA Art:ua {7]0}.. Population: 7 4]000.
Cities and towns.. ALr±ya (70,000); HZLra
Dag (200),. Ordu (1,000); Patnos (800);
Solhan (2,000).
arit.bra-.E6'ac
AssariF {1J4}= Population..1,000.
Towns.. A few unriamed villages.
Az€dLa\s {1|L\).. Population: I,000.
Towns.. Sebinkara (400). HLijr]s.. Kuzluka
(large town); Obruk (trading post).
Djef el-Kadir ( 1/4): PopL[/afjon.. 500
nomad herders. Towt]s.. rlone. fiLzjris..
Ceyhan (village).
TEE:drra {3|4).. Population.. 3,000.
Towns.. Darenda ( 1,000),. Tarabulun
(I,ZOO); four unnamed villages.
Ftouzir {2|3).. Population.. 2,500.
Towt]s.. Hakkari ( 1,000),. eight villages.
Tegiher {2|3).. Population: 5,000.
Towr]s.. Cucursa (I,000); Sifrit (800);
six villages.
(Based on a dozen and
one adventures by
Steve Kurtz, a 1993
sourcebox for the AD&D®
Al-Qadin Campaign. )
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